From September 1st, sports clubs across Bath and North East Somerset can apply for grants to support improvements in facilities and kit in return for implementing a smoke-free sports club policy.
Clubs who want to achieve smoke free sidelines will need to demonstrate their commitment by having a written smoke-free policy, clear signage across the site at both training sessions and fixtures and to ensure coaches attend a smoke-free training session provided by the local stop smoking service. Support will be provided free to clubs to achieve this including the provision of signage and training. In return they could get up to £500 towards equipment.
Cllr Vic Pritchard, (Conservative, Chew Valley South), Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “Most people start smoking in their teens and we know that young people who grow up in a smoke-free environment are much more likely to be smoke-free as an adult. Bath and North East Somerset Council wants to encourage sports clubs that have youth teams to actively enforce a smokefree environment and ensure that young people do not associate sport with smoking.
“We are doing really well in Bath and North East Somerset with smoking levels dropping to an average of just over 13% among adults. However, we know that smoking levels are higher in some communities. This includes the south of Bath and the Radstock and Midsomer Norton areas. So we would encourage clubs in these areas to apply for this support in particular.”
The grants programme is managed by Quartet Community Foundation on behalf of the Council and Sirona Care and Health CIC who are working together to promote Smoke-Free B&NES. Clubs can apply for the grant from 1st September via www.quartetcf.org.uk
For further information about the grant, please refer to the guidelines and application form on the Quartet website. For more information, about creating a smoke-free sports club, please call Joanne Fuller at Sirona Care and Health on: 078502 90521.