Yorkshire Smokefree helping people to quit and get fit
People who have given up smoking in Calderdale are being given a chance to test out leisure facilities in the local area with the launch of a new initiative offered by Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale.
Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale is run by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Working in partnership with Calderdale Council, the ‘Quit and Get Fit’ initiative offers local people who have stopped smoking for 4 weeks with the service, a free 7 day pass to use at 6 local leisure and sports centres. This includes Halifax Swimming Pool, North Bridge Leisure Centre, Sowerby Bridge Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre, Todmorden Sports Centre and Brighouse Leisure Centre.
Jan Spence, stop smoking specialist said: “Sometimes people who have given up the habit of smoking often worry about gaining weight.
“This new initiative will give people the chance to enjoy and test out what the local Calderdale Council sports centres have to offer. There are a range of activities people can take part in, such as working out in the gym, taking part in a variety of exercise classes or swimming. We hope they will take advantage of this offer and become more active.”
Cllr Simon Young, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Wellbeing and Engagement, said: “Quitting smoking is a fantastic achievement and we want to reward those who stop by helping them to feel even better by offering a free seven-day pass for our Council sports services.
“With centres located across Calderdale there’s something for all ages and abilities. We want to help people live healthy lifestyles, and joining up our services is a great way to do this. It’s hard to quit smoking and going to the gym could help deal with the cravings whilst improving your health, making you feel happier and helping with weight loss.”
Yorkshire Smokefree Calderdale offer a range of resources to help people quit that you can pick and mix to suit you including telephone support, face to face sessions and an online quitting programme.
If you would like to quit smoking call Yorkshire Smokefree on 0800 612 00 11 free from a landline or 0330 660 116 free from most mobiles, or visit the website www.yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk