Praise for Haringey schools working to tackle vaping by pupils

Five local schools took part in a year-long initiative supported by the council and City Hall, writes Taro Kaneko

Five schools in Haringey have been praised by Haringey Council for their work to reduce vaping by students.

Fortismere School, Gladesmore School, Park View School, Heartlands School and Hornsey School for Girls took part in an initiative to tackle vaping between July 2023 and May 2024.

As part of the ‘School Superzones Initiative’, supported by the Mayor of London, participating schools set up a 400-metre radius around their premises to help create a healthier and safer place for children.

One of the participating schools has shown a reduction in the number of students excluded due to vaping.

Haringey’s trading standards team has disposed of over 500kg of non-compliant vapes seized from several traders over the last 18 months. The project has also delivered twelve assemblies at four schools to children and young people, with 3,980 students attending these assemblies, and teacher training workshops.

Lucia das Neves, the council’s cabinet member for health, social care and wellbeing, said: “We’re extremely proud of this cross-cutting and collaborative work that has listened to young people’s experiences and will help them change their views when it comes to vaping, as well as protect their health and wellbeing.

“Tackling the wider determinants of health is key to healthier communities and to prevention work, so we’ll also continue to share our learning with government at London and national level.”

Alongside the scheme, the council has co-produced a radio podcast show with young people and Professor Andrew Bush, an expert in respiratory diseases, and other healthcare professionals on vaping and young people.

Research from Haringey Healthwatch in September 2023, commissioned by Haringey Council’s public health team, found that the illicit sale of vapes in Haringey were prevalent and that social media played a role in attracting and popularising vapes among young people.

Haringey Council has been involved with the superzones project since 2018 and worked on a pilot phase to address air quality, green spaces and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

For confidential support and advice on drugs and alcohol for young people and parents:
Visit https://insightyoungpeople.org.uk/our-services/insight-platform/

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