Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and the Nottinghamshire Football Association create Smokefree Sidelines project

A new initiative is being launched across the county to promote healthier, more family-friendly grassroots football with smoke-free sidelines.

The Smokefree Sidelines project is designed to discourage smoking and vaping at children’s football matches, promoting positive role models and protecting young people from harm.

With 67,200 children in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire living in smoking households and around 2,500 children starting to smoke each year, the initiative aims to tackle one of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s biggest public health challenges.

Children are four times more likely to start smoking if a parent or caregiver smokes.

Building on the successful work led by Rushcliffe Borough Council, this collaborative effort between Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and the Nottinghamshire Football Association aim to create a more positive environment for children, young people, and families.

Clubs that sign up will receive a free Smokefree Sidelines kit, which includes footballs, bibs, bags and pavement boards, as well as a toolkit of posters, guidance and social media materials.

These resources will help clubs make their sidelines smoke-free and visibly show their commitment to creating a healthier, family-friendly environment.

Councillor Helen Kalsi, executive member for Adult Social Care and Health at Nottingham City Council, said: “We want to give every child and young person in Nottingham the best start in life, and that means protecting them from the harms of smoking and vaping.

“By taking action right on the pitch where young people play, we are promoting positive role models and showing that football is about health, teamwork and enjoyment.

“I’d encourage every local club to sign up and be part of this important step towards a healthier future for our city.”

Councillor Dawn Justice, cabinet member for Communities and Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council, said that encouraging children and young people to stay fit and healthy was vital for their long-term health and wellbeing, and that playing football was a popular and enjoyable way to achieve this.

Elaine Oram, chief executive of Nottinghamshire FA, said the initiative was a fantastic way to safeguard the health of young players across the county.

She explained that on Saturday and Sunday mornings, children of all ages took part in football to improve their wellbeing through exercise, and that their environment should only have a positive impact on their health.

Mrs Oram said that introducing smoke-free sidelines would enhance players’ experience of the game and encourage them to continue playing for longer, further supporting their physical health.

Football clus within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are encouraged to sign up and access the free resources at https://www.nottsmoking.co.uk/protecting-others/smokefree-sidelines/.

Notts County Foundation Health manager, Alex Toplis added: ''At Notts County Foundation, we’re committed to using the power of football to inspire healthier communities.

“The Smokefree Sidelines initiative aligns with our values of promoting wellbeing and creating positive environments for young people to thrive. By supporting smokefree grassroots football, we’re helping ensure that children and families across Nottinghamshire can enjoy the game in a safe, healthy, and supportive space.

“It’s a simple, but an important step towards a healthier future across our communities.”