ASH Scotland has demonstrated its commitment to support and develop work relating to tobacco and inequalities for over 15 years. Each phase of work has been initiated by an identified need or recognised gap in knowledge or service provision, and has helped shape the focus and direction of future work around inequalities.
The work has been wide and varied, involving development of resources, research, small projects funds, partnership working and community engagement. Our work has also aimed to target specific groups within areas of inequalities where there has been an identified need.
This project distributed funds ranging from £1,000-£15,000 in two successive years, and specifically targeted projects which aimed to reduce tobacco use amongst older adults, black and minority ethnic groups, and those with mental health problems. A total of 25 grants were awarded to various organisations across Scotland.
PATH was responsible for supporting the dissemination of a three-year national Support Fund of £900,000 for projects whose start/end dates fell between 2003-07. The funds were used primarily to enable local pilot initiatives - eleven in all - to deliver work on tobacco, which aimed to reduce the proportion of pregnant women and people faced with inequalities who smoke.
The projects undertook work supporting smoking cessation, prevention or education - or a combination of these approaches - amongst the target groups: older adults, ethnic minority groups, pregnancy, low income, mental health and disability.
