Organiser blogs
This part of the military NSD website is provided to give NSD event planners and their teams a few ideas to get started.
Wherever possible it is best to have a team and not try to plan and run an event alone.
Delegate tasks etc to others.
Speak to your local chain of command to engage support. They may not be able to take part but can help in other areas such as promoting and endorsing your local event and perhaps provide assistance with props/setting up etc.
DON'T FORGET YOUR PTI'S! They are enthusiastic, and motivated and play a key role on promotion of these healthy lifestyle events.
For the Military No Smoking Day Organiser of the year Awards 2009 the team from Gibraltar swept the boards, taking the Overall winner prize and receiving commendations in other key areas.
For more information log onto www.no.smokingday.org.uk.
For NSD 2010 the Gibraltar Team plan to run an equally successful campaign. To-date they have the following activities either in progress or final planning;
- The Gibraltar team leader, Lt Cdr Lorraine England, will be submitting a monthly blog for inclusion on the military web-page military.nosmokingday.org.uk
- Lorraine has also produced a multi-media Powerpoint 'best-practice' presentation on outlining how to deliver a successful No Smoking Day campaign. This presentation has been included on the programme for the smoking cessation adviser update days and is available from Annie Owen (Armed Forces Smoking Cessation Co-ordinator). Contact Annie on afscc@btconnect.com
- The PRMC HALT (Health & Lifestyle Team) have implemented a 'Quit & Get Fit' programme for smokers, to run from Jan-Mar and is being offered to all smokers. This is a 'command-wide' initiative with a number of departments and agencies contributing their skills to the programme and includes the PRMC team and PTIs.
- On 12th Feb the PRMC HALT team are rolling out a community 'Healthy Hearts' roadshow in support of the British Heart Foundation www.bhf.org.uk which links to our 2010 No Smoking Day Campaign. On 12 Feb the team were at key sites in the command offering brief health assessments and advice (the campaign having been launched on BFBS radio). The MA from HMS Enterprise (a RN survey ship) which was alongside in Gibraltar, also involved the ship's company. Participating in this initiative has assisted them in developing skills/confidence in running small health improvement initiatives.
- The PRMC HALT team in conjunction with HQBF Gibraltar Media Ops and
Gibraltar Squadron will be running a media scenario on either 9th or 10th
Mar in support of the main UK No Smoking Day campaign. the scenario being:
'A smoker is held hostage (in chains) by 'Big Cig' at a location in the dockyard. Gibraltar squadron are asked to release the smoker from his captor. They launch their vessel, storm the area in which the smoker is held and release the smoker. Big Cig and the smoker are returned to an awaiting team at the Tower. Big Cig is taken into custody. The Gib Sqdn team hand the smoker (still in chains) to an awaiting medical team who take him to PRMC. Here the smoker will undergo a full physical assessment (carbon monoxide testing/dental exam/PTI assessment) and offered stop smoking advice and support. The smoker will then be released from his chains/addiction to tobacco and start on his stop smoking programme' - The PRMC HALT team have approached the SCE/HM Forces primary school re: involving the younger children in No Smoking Day by means of an educational 'teddy-bear' diary concept. There will be a competition for the most unusual digital photo with one of the No Smoking Day www.no.smokingday.org.uk teddy bears or Big Cig (TBC). Lorraine has planned to order several teddy bears from the web-page which could be used as prizes.
The enthusiastic and motivated HALT team has full support from the local command, which is vital for success of these high profile campaigns.
The following article has been submitted for the Spring Edition Homeport the Naval Families Federation magazine
'No Smoking Day Wednesday 10 March 2010 - Break Free'
Wednesday 10th March heralds 'No Smoking Day 2010' with this years campaign theme being to 'break-free' from the addiction of tobacco. As Dan Tickle (Chief Executive of the No Smoking Day Team) commented at a recent 'No Smoking Day 2010 Break-Free' campaign launch;
'This year's theme has been developed with smoker themselves. They told us that they are experiencing uncomfortable internal conflict about smoking…internal conflict worsened by sense of addiction, powerlessness and feeling trapped. It's not surprising therefore that most smokers want to quit, escape the chains of addiction, and No Smoking Day is here to make sure they stand the best possible chance of success. So that's why this year's theme with its striking and symbolic image of arms breaking free from a chain of cigarettes, and strap line - Break free, we can help, resonated so much with the smoker focus groups we talked to. The theme is empowering, positive, supportive. No Smoking Day 2009 saw 1 in 10 smokers kick the habit, that's an impressive 900,000 people! And we're expecting even more to take part on 10 March 2010.
Overseas, the Gibraltar No Smoking Day team will be attempting to build upon their 2009 success as the 'No Smoking Day - Overall Organiser of the Year 2009 winner' to deliver another effective campaign. In the lead-up to 'No Smoking Day 2010' in March the Gibraltar team will be supporting the 'break-free' campaign theme by encouraging smokers to enrol in a 'Quit and Get Fit' programme. On Wednesday 10 March (No Smoking Day 2010) they will turn their attention to rolling-out a series of activities in an attempt to inform smokers about the hazards associated with smoking and, the stop smoking support services that are available via military medical centres. To find out more about how to stop smoking or become involved in the 'No Smoking Day 2010 Break-free' campaign log on to: www.nosmokingday.org.uk
'Big Cig & the Rock Chicks' (members of the Gibraltar 2009 No Smoking
day Team) meet representatives from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force
Families Federation in Gibraltar on No Smoking Day 11 March 2009