Make this October your month to quit smoking

Stopping smoking for 28 days this Stoptober makes you five times more likely to quit for good - that’s why this October, our dedicated Stop Smoking Advisors are hitting the streets with free, personalised support.

It’s much easier to stop when you have the right help, and our experts are ready to offer guidance, free stop smoking medications and practical tips, tailored to your needs.

Over 2.5 million people have already used Stoptober to break free from smoking. This year, we’re inviting you to be part of the thousands of others committing to a healthier, smoke-free future.

We know it’s never easy to quit smoking, but the benefits are almost immediate. When you stop smoking, your blood pressure and heart rate begin to return to normal within just 20 minutes, and in 48 hours, your body starts clearing out harmful toxins. Your risk of developing dementia also reduces. With improvements like these, quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health - no matter your age or how many times you’ve tried before.

Stop Smoking service

Throughout the month, our Stop Smoking service will be making stops at locations in the community including a service on the Health Bus. This is your chance to meet face-to-face with our experienced advisors.

They’ll talk you through what’s available to help you quit, ranging from the new Swap to Stop scheme - which offers vapes as a quitting aid for smokers 18 and over - to personalised plans, medications, and behavioural support. If you’ve tried quitting before, give it another go, this time with the support proven to work!

Health Bus schedule

The Health Bus will be available on the following dates:

• Wednesday 2 October from 10am to 4pm at Tesco Teddington, 20-28 Broad St, Teddington, TW11 8RF
• Tuesday 8 October from 9am to 3pm outside Kanset Pharmacy, 177 Ashburnham Rd, Richmond, TW10 7NR
• Thursday 17 October from 11am to 5pm at Nelson Road Car Park, 1 Library Way, Twickenham, TW2 7AP
• Thursday 24 October from 10am to 4pm at The Barons, Twickenham, Off St Margaret’s Road, TW1 2LH
• Wednesday 9 October 10.30am to 1pm at Twickenham Civic Centre

Available support

Our team will guide you through various support options, including:

• Managing withdrawal symptoms
• Coping with triggers and cravings
• Regular carbon monoxide monitoring
• Personalised quit plans and medications (NRT)
• Access to stop-smoking aids and the Swap to Stop Scheme
• Tips on what to expect and how to handle challenges

Drop-in clinics

We know life is busy, so we’re making sure support is always within reach. If you can’t drop by in person, we’ve got you covered with our weekly drop-in clinics.

They are hosted every Monday at the Twickenham Civic Centre from 10am to 3pm.

Speak to a Stop Smoking Advisor

Prefer to speak to someone from the comfort of your home? Submit a simple enquiry form and one of our friendly Stop Smoking Advisors will be in touch to guide you through every option and help you create a quit plan that works for you.

You can also get in touch with our advisors by phone or email:

• 24/7 Freephone: 0800 011 4558
• Email: stopsmokingteam@richmond.gov.uk