Birmingham City Council invests in local stop smoking support

The investment will increase capacity for smoking cessation support in communities where smoking prevalence remains high. It will also see specialised services created at a community level for those accessing support for mental illness, substance use and rough sleeping.   

Targeting community gaps 

This investment recognises that many smokers, particularly those facing socio-economic disadvantages, struggle to access conventional stop smoking services. Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) are co-ordinating five lead Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations across Birmingham's Locality Delivery Partnerships (LDPs), which have been funded to design and deliver smoking cessation services tailored to specific community needs. VCFSE organisations, which already have established relationships and trust within their communities, are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap and provide culturally appropriate, accessible support. 

Community stop smoking outreach  

Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) has been funded to spearhead a comprehensive training programme. The initiative will equip Birmingham's wider VCFSE organisations with essential knowledge about the impacts of smoking and how to have effective conversations to encourage smoking cessation. Within their local communities, this will enable workers within these organisations to provide continuous guidance and support for those who smoke to quit, helping them to connect with appropriate Local Stop Smoking Services (LSSS) in their area.  Volunteers are also being recruited across Birmingham to attend health events in the community to promote stop smoking support, with a compassionate approach. 

Addressing smoking disparities amongst those with severe mental illness 

Birmingham Mental Health Foundation Trust (BSMHT) has been funded to launch specialised stop smoking services for smokers receiving support for mental health conditions. This is with an aim to reduce the smoking prevalence among all new admissions which currently stands at 39%, over double that of the general population and contributing to a 15–20-year gap in life expectancy. 

The new tailored service will provide smoking harm reduction and cessation support, including access to vapes, patches, lozenges, other nicotine replacement therapies and where applicable, medications. The service will offer trauma-informed behavioural support designed specifically for people with complex needs. This project also propels a cultural shift to dispel the current perception that smoking improves mental illness, when in fact it worsens outcomes.  

The new service will accept referrals from current inpatient advisors and community mental health teams (CMHT). Initially, clinics will operate across the following CMHT sites:  

• East Hub: Small Heath Health Centre 
• North Hub: Northcroft    
• West Hub: Orsborn House  
• Yewcroft: Barberry  
• Warstock Lane: Warstock Lane   
• Longbridge: Longbridge Health & Community Centre  
• Dementia and Frailty: Juniper Centre  
• Homeless Health Exchange  
• FIRST Teams (Forensic Community Team) 

Supporting vulnerable populations through Change Grow Live (CGL) 

Birmingham is also launching a dedicated Stop Smoking Service tailored for people experiencing homelessness or accessing substance use support. Delivered by Change Grow Live, the service aims to ensure equitable access to smoking cessation support, with a particular focus on individuals experiencing rough sleeping, or already engaged in alcohol and drug treatment services. 

Support will combine nicotine replacement therapy and evidence-based behavioural interventions, offered through personalised one-to-one sessions with trained Stop Smoking Advisors. The sessions will be delivered either in person or by telephone, depending on individual needs and preferences. 

Services will be delivered from the central Change Grow Live hub at Lonsdale House, Birmingham city centre. All individuals accessing support, and employees of Change Grow Live at the Lonsdale House hub will be eligible for this service. 

Councillor Mariam Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care at Birmingham City Council, comments:  "When it comes to giving up smoking, the unique challenges faced by people living with mental illness, addiction, or homelessness may sometimes be overlooked by traditional stop smoking services. Our targeted approach directly addresses this by bringing tailored support services into the heart of our communities. We are prioritising inclusion and making sure that no one is left behind as we work toward a smokefree Birmingham by 2030." 

Pippa Pollard, Associate Director of Strategy and Partnership at BCHC, comments: “We are proud to be working alongside our valued VCFSE partners on this project, as we recognise through this approach that that a 'one-size-fits-all' model doesn't work for everyone. This funding allows them to create tailored, accessible, and localised services, helping us to break down barriers to quitting, to reduce inequalities, and to improve public health across the city.”  

Stephanie Bloxham, Head of Health and Social Care at BVSC, comments: “We are delighted to be supporting the wider VCFSE Sector across Birmingham to help people stop smoking. As well as the training programme, the grants provided will enable organisations to engage with smokers across our diverse communities and those experiencing socio-economic disadvantages. Volunteers will also have a key role in providing stop smoking support across the city and contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.” 

Patrick Nyarumbu MBE, Chief Executive at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, comments: “Smokefree BSMHFT is a vital step in prioritising the physical and mental health of our patients and service users and creating a safer, healthier environment for everyone at BSMHFT. We know that people with mental health conditions face significantly higher risks from smoking. We also recognise how hard it is for some to quit which is why we are committed to offering immediate, compassionate support from the moment someone is admitted.” 

Carl Price, Stop Smoking Implementation Project Manager at Change Grow Live, comments: “Quitting smoking is not just about breaking a habit, it’s about transforming your life. The Change Grow Live Smoking Cessation Project empowers individuals to reclaim their health and redefine their future, one smoke-free day at a time.” 

By addressing service gaps and reaching underserved populations, the initiative aims to reduce health inequalities and create sustainable, long-term change in smoking behaviour across the city, representing a crucial component of Birmingham's strategy to achieve smokefree status by 2030. 

For more information about local stop smoking support and services, residents are encouraged to visit the Birmingham City Council website.