What is the STCA?

The Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance (STCA) is Scotland’s forum for information exchange, discussion and collaboration on all aspects of tobacco control and health promotion relating to smoking. The STCA gives all those working with tobacco related issues a voice to influence national policy development.

STCA affiliated organisations appoint representatives to the STCA (Mreps) to help plan STCA strategy and activity and individuals working in these organisations may register as STCA Advocates.

Organisations represented within the STCA include all of Scotland’s health boards, many local council authorities through departments covering trading standards, environmental health and education, university departments with interests in public health, the Royal Colleges of Surgeons, Nursing and Midwifery, the BDA, BMA and other professional bodies, NHS Health Scotland, community based health projects, health charities and organisations tackling health inequalities numbering more than 120.

In addition to attending STCA activities, Mreps and Advocates are encouraged to put forward suggestions for action and discussion which may provide useful learning and professional development opportunities for their own staff, colleagues or stakeholders and so benefit the whole tobacco control community.

The STCA hosts a number of topic groups which meet regularly including:

•  Research Group
• Tobacco Control Issues Group

•  Cessation in Pregnancy Group
• The Youth and Tobacco Forum.

The STCA is coordinated by ASH Scotland whose staff provide much of the management expertise. Consequently the most up-to-date and professional help and advice is always on hand, through the website, through the weekly STCA bulletin of news and research and from ASH Scotland staff.

During the strategy term 2009 to 2012 the STCA is being part-funded by Cancer Research UK.

For an insight into the type of activity carried out by the STCA refer to the STCA Strategic Plan for 2009 to 2012 ( 5 pages, 125KB) or read the report from the Annual Meeting 2009 (16 pages, 4.16MB).

The history of STCA development can be found in the STCA Foundations section.