Tobacco Awareness-Raising Sessions

Since 2012, ASH Scotland has been offering Tobacco Awareness-Raising Sessions (TARS) to staff and volunteers in the voluntary and community sector.  They have covered a range of topics and issues relating to inequalities where tobacco use has an impact.

The purpose of TARS is to:

• raise awareness of the issues and inequalities some communities across Scotland face in relation to tobacco and health
• encourage staff/volunteers to think about the impact that tobacco use might be having on their service users
• consider if/when it might be appropriate to raise the issue of tobacco and smoking with service users
• address any fears and concerns staff/volunteers might have about raising the issue
• discuss how/when/where to implement tobacco and/or smoke-free policies in the workplace.

So far 36 TARS have been delivered throughout Scotland to 320 individuals and tailored for 26 different organisations, at a venue and time of each organisation's choosing.  Sessions last around an hour, and can be a stand-alone event or embedded into other events (e.g. team meetings, development days). 

Our priorities 

We are prioritising the promotion and delivery of tailored TARS to organisations and services around the following areas:

• children and young people (includes early years)
• poverty/welfare.

If you work in any of these areas as an employer or volunteer, please do get in touch to arrange a TARS and enhance your organisation's efforts to help improve the well-being of the communities you support.

Whilst we have specific priorities this year, there is an opportunity now to influence our workplan priorities and focus for TARS delivery.  If you work in an area of inequalities not covered above but would be interested in future delivery of TARS, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

For more information about the TARS and to influence our future priorities, contact us by emailing enquiries@ashscotland.org.uk or by phoning us on 0131 225 4725.