MIKE PENNING MP CHATS TO LOCAL YOUNGSTERS ABOUT SMOKING
Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead and Shadow Minister for Health joined pupils at Lockers Park School, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire to learn about the risks of smoking today (Thursday, March 18).
Mike sat with the Year 5 and 6 pupils during the lively presentation from Alison Walsh, a Youth Presenter at UK stop smoking charity QUIT’s youth service QUIT Because.
The boys were told about the risks of smoking in different ways during the 45 minute presentation, including taking part in a quiz, looking at pictures of damaged organs, and watching a fun ‘ingredients show’, which demonstrated some of the 4,000 harmful chemicals found in a cigarette using everyday household items.
Mike chatted to pupils after the event. He later said: “Educating youngsters at this stage of their life is part of what needs to be done to discourage them from smoking. It can also be done through raising tax and hard-hitting advertisements, but it is the individual’s decision whether they smoke or not, and giving them the facts in this way is clever and effective.
“It is imperative that young people don’t feel they are being lectured to. To be part of the presentation like they were today is very important.”
10-year-old pupil Jamie Woodley said: “I really enjoyed the presentation, especially the ingredients show. I learnt a lot about the dangers of smoking, especially about what it does to your body.
I have never smoked, and I don’t think I ever will. His friend Robert Arthur, also 10, agreed. He said: “There is not a chance that I will smoke when I am older.”
To date, country-wide presenters for QUIT Because have reached more than 1 million 8-18 year olds.
