Quit Smoking Incentive

Published Monday 12 June, 2023
Last updated on Thursday 22 February, 2024

Smokers in Swale who drop their cigarette butts can get a partial refund of their £150 fine if they successfully quit smoking via a KCHFT Smoke Free adviser and remain smoke free after 6 months.

The scheme is a partnership between Swale Borough Council and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) to help smokers try to kick the habit.

Swale council spends around £900,000 cleaning the boroughs streets every year, and approximately three quarters of the items collected are smoking related.

Anyone issued a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for dropping smoking related litter can receive a refund of £100 if they successfully complete KCHFT’s free One You Smokefree programme.

The One You Smokefree programme is a seven-week course with an NHS trained Smoke Free adviser.  Participants receive a personal quit plan and can get nicotine replacement therapy such as patches or gum on prescription for the duration of the course and access to a free e-cigarette starter kit (terms and conditions apply). There are follow-up tests after six months to show they’ve remained smoke free.

The One You Smokefree team offers a range of appointment types including face to face, telephone and digital across Kent for anyone who wants to quit smoking. Sixty-five per cent of people who use the programme successfully quit smoking, compared to just three per cent who try to quit by going it alone.

For help to go Smokefree contact the One You team on 0300 123 1220 or visit www.kentcht.nhs.uk/oneyou