SmokeFree Hull

We’re here to help you stop smoking in a way that works for you

Stopping smoking at a young age has lots of benefits right away, and it can help you avoid diseases later in life.

At SmokeFree Hull, we can help you to quit. Our services are free and confidential, and we won’t judge you or tell you what to do. We’ll listen to what you want, your reasons for quitting, and come up with a plan to help you become smoke-free.

We offer support to any Hull resident aged 12 and over with a postcode up to HU9, who would like to quit smoking cigarettes or shisha.

If you live outside of this area, please contact Xyla Health and Wellbeing for support.

What your first appointment will look like

There’s no need to be anxious – our helpful and friendly team will be with you every step of the way and we won’t judge you or tell you what to do. You’ll have your own advisor to speak to every week and they’ll support you along the way.

During your first chat they’ll go through the following:

  • Getting to know you and your smoking habits
  • The reasons why you want to stop smoking 
  • What products are available to help with cravings
  • They’ll work with you to put a plan together to quit

All conversations are free and confidential – we won’t share what you’ve told us with anyone. If you are aged 16 or under you will usually need consent from your parent or legal guardian to receive support from our service – do reach out to us in any case and we can explain the process.

The first appointment is face-to-face and can last up to 45 minutes. Each follow-up appointment will be 15 minutes to see how you’re getting on, and can be held over the phone or in person.

Five young people with their backs to the camera and arms around each other

Tips to help you quit

  • Ask friends and family to support you. Choose people who you can be honest with, and who'll be honest with you.
  • Enlist your mates. Make a deal with friends who also want to quit so you can support each other.
  • Prepare excuses for saying no. It can be difficult to tell friends you’re stopping smoking, so prepare something to say when you're offered a cigarette.
  • Try and avoid alcohol, coffee, sugar and sweets. These can stimulate cigarette cravings.
  • Read our advice on coping with cravings.

Do you go to school in Hull?

If so, your school nurse can give you advice and support. They will be able to talk to you about smoking and guide you in setting a quit date along with using different products to help you quit. They can also refer you to our community service if you prefer.

If you’re a school nurse – find out how you and your school can help more pupils stop smoking with our free training sessions.

Three young people outside talking and laughing

What stop smoking products can young people get?

Stopping smoking is hard, but there are lots of treatment options available.

Getting the right treatment to suit you is very important. Your advisor will talk you through the options and what works best for you. All conversations are confidential.

If you’re 17 or under, you can get several nicotine-replacement products free on prescription, including nicotine lozenges, gum, patches, mouth spray and an inhalator.

Read about the pros and cons of each product.

Photo of a set of e-cigarettes

Vaping as a way to stop smoking

If you are over 18, you could also use a vape device to help you quit smoking. This is very effective, as it mimics the act of smoking – but is 95% less harmful than cigarettes.

However, it is not risk-free and it can be addictive, so we do not recommend vaping unless you are using it as an alternative to smoking cigarettes. If you do vape, always buy your device and refills from authorised stores – there are many harmful fakes on the market.

How stopping smoking can improve your health and wellbeing

Smoking can cause short- and long-term health effects. The sooner you decide to quit, the less risk you’ll have of developing serious health issues.

Reasons to stop smoking

  • You'll be healthier and less out of breath.
  • You'll save a lot of money.
  • You'll look better. Chemicals in cigarettes restrict blood flow to your skin, causing wrinkles and droopy skin.
  • You’ll massively reduce the risk of heart disease, lung disease and lung and other cancers.
  • You won’t harm the health of people around you – including friends, family, children and anyone who has asthma, is pregnant, etc.
  • Your breath won’t smell of smoke – and neither will your clothes and home.
  • Smoking causes stained teeth and gum and tooth disease, including losing your teeth.
  • Smoking can make it harder to start a family later in life, for both men and women.
  • Stained teeth and gum and tooth disease, including losing your teeth 
  • You’ll helps save the planet! Tobacco farms account for nearly 5% of global deforestation.