Centra-sponsored Programme Helps Young People Get the Message about Smoking


2nd July 2010

Belfast High School Head Boy Michael Adair (18) and Head Girl Laura Stewart (18) join Centra Brand Manager Nicky Kelly (second from right) and Action Cancer’s Emily Magrath (second from left) to celebrate the results of an evaluation of the charity’s Health Action programme for schools, which is sponsored by Centra.

The survey of over 400 young people who took part in the health promotion initiative showed its success in educating young people about the dangers of smoking, increasing their knowledge and changing attitudes.

Action Cancer’s evaluation revealed that the young people’s actual knowledge of the short and long-term effects of smoking, including reduced fitness, increased by almost 20 per cent overall after participating in Health Action sessions. Before attending sessions 49% of young people knew how many harmful chemicals are in cigarette smoke and 54% understood that smoking reduces the amount of oxygen getting to the brain. After participating in the programme these figures rose to 93% and 81% respectively. The number of young people who knew that smoking can cause stomach cancer rose by 46% (29%-75%) and the percentage who understood that smoking can cause cancer of the liver rose by over 40% (40%-82%).

The group of young people who took part in the survey and who admitted smoking showed a significant change in their attitudes, indicating that the programme may help teenagers quit. When quizzed about whether the Health Action session would help them quit smoking the majority of the smoking group (81%) said yes.

Action Cancer and Centra formed a partnership seven years ago in support of the Health Action project, with Centra covering the cost of running the programme, while stores raise funds for Action Cancer and encourage participation among local schools. Over the past seven years £600,000 of funding from Centra has helped the local charity bring Health Action to 300,000 young people.