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Smoking & Vaping SIG

The Smoking and Vaping Special Interest Group (SIG) was established in 2024 to bring together Faculty of Public Health (FPH) members and wider professionals who have a keen interest in issues around smoking and vaping. This new SIG is currently developing a workplan for the coming year and is open to new members.

Contact 

The Smoking and Vaping SIG reports to the Faculty’s Health Improvement Committee. 

The SIG is co-chaired by: Corrina Bebbington and Sarah Gentry. You can reach the SIG Chairs at SmokingVapingSIG@fph.org.uk. 

Join the SIG

FPH members can join this SIG by logging into their FPH members’ portal account, selecting the ‘Committees/SIGs’ button and choosing the correct SIG. You will then be asked to provide a few details, following which your application will be automatically approved. Further details on FPH membership are available here.

Webinar recordings

Faculty members can visit the FPH Members Portal to watch webinar recordings.

Workplan

Activity: Agreeing priority areas as a SIG and driving progress around these areas 

Outcome:

  • Evidence to demonstrate that we have taken opportunities to influence externally and internally around our priority areas, across the four nations.  
  • Members feel well informed around priority areas. 

Target date: Initial priorities agreed as of January 2025. To review priorities annually, or as needs arise. 

Named lead: Sarah Gentry & Corrina Bebbington

Progress to date:

  • Regular presentations by topic specific expert in all-member SIG meetings.
  • Initial priorities for the SIG have been established: 
    • The top priority for the SIG is ending harms from tobacco, and will specifically include advocacy around the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, and pricing policies.
    • Smokefree places.
    • Preventing youth vaping uptake, with a specific focus on the promotion of vapes to young people.
  • We aim to integrate a health inequities lens in all that we do, and focusing on supporting priority groups.

Outputs:

  • Advocacy focused around SIG priority areas.
  • Reactive request responses including consultations.
  • Professional development activities outlined below focused around SIG priority areas.
  • Regular SIG meeting actions to drive progress around priority areas.

Activity: Developing necessary governance structures/processes

Outcome:

  • Agreed governance structures to ensure oversight, accountability and responsiveness to SIG membership. 
  • SIG Declaration of Interests (DOI) policy to support developed DOI form. 

Target date: September 2025

Named lead: Sarah Gentry & Corrina Bebbington

Progress to date:

  • SIG ToR agreed.
  • Declarations of interest Form developed and signed off.
  • Executive group formed to accelerate progress towards the SIG’s vision and aims.  

Outputs:

  • Develop DOI policy and processes around the DOI form.
  • Report on progress to Health Improvement Committee.
  • Report to all-SIG chair meetings. 

Activity: Supporting members to stay up to date

Outcome: Members feel supported to stay up to date on priority areas around smoking cessation, tobacco control, vaping and other nicotine products. 

Target date: Ongoing

Named lead: Sarah Gentry & Corrina Bebbington

Progress to date:

  • Well attended launch event with presentation from ADPH vice-president and Health Improvement Committee chair.
  • Regular update emails sharing a summary of upcoming topic partner activities, such as: publications, webinars and events.
  • External speakers attending meetings to give updates on key topics e.g. Tobacco & Vapes Bill.

Outputs:

  • Forward planning of  speakers for all-SIG member meetings.
  • Webinars for FPH members.
  • Plan to promote wider skills training opportunities where relevant (e.g. on communication, ethics, advocacy).
  • Signposting of CPD opportunities e.g. NCSCT resources

Activity: Recruiting members

Outcome: Active membership from across the four nations, with any declarations of interest managed.

Target date: Ongoing

Named lead: Sarah Gentry & Corrina Bebbington

Progress to date:

  • ~70 members recruited to date.
  • Good attendance at SIG meetings (~20 members per meeting).
  • Good uptake of executive group membership.

Outputs:

  • Continue to recruit members across the four nations.
  • Ensure members complete DOI declaration form.

Activity: Building relationships and working with external partners

Outcome: 

  • Increased awareness of the SIG amongst external partners.
  • Relationships built with external partners to raise the profile of the SIG, support professional development of members, and work together to accelerate progress towards the SIG’s priorities.

Target date: Ongoing

Named lead: Sarah Gentry & Corrina Bebbington

Progress to date: 

  • Deliberative discussions with key stakeholders across the four nations including: academics, NHS, governmental organisations (all levels), VCSE partners and regional programme partners
  • Members canvassed around existing connections with stakeholders and key external partners.
  • Follow-up with connections that have emerged in meetings.
  • University of Michigan interview research request participation (around tobacco and nicotine product regulation and implementation).
  • Membership of the Smokefree Action Coalition and regular updates to the FPH, highlighting areas for action. 

Outputs:

  • Continue to work with external partners engaged with SIG priority areas to drive forward progress, support professional development, promote connectivity and raise the profile of the SIG.
  • Explore opportunities to connect with international stakeholders to advocate around priority areas globally.
  • Influence research questions/topics where relevant. 

Activity: Building internal connectivity including collaborating with other SIGs

Outcome: Increased linkage with other SIGs, to avoid duplication, and accelerate progress towards the SIG’s aims.

Target date: March 2025

Named lead: Sarah Gentry & Corrina Bebbington

Progress to date:

  • Collaboration with CDoH SIG in development of our DOI Policy.
  • Members canvassed around existing connections with other SIGs and key partner SIGs.
  • Members have been connecting and working together outside SIG meetings on areas of interest.

Outputs:

  • Explore opportunities for joint professional development and/or webinars.
  • Explore opportunities to influence wider ‘Declarations of Interests’ processes within the FPH.

Activity: Responding to reactive requests for information/evidence

Outcome: Agreed structures/policies/processes for responding to reactive SIG requests, recognising differences between and learning from each of our four nations.

Target date: March 2025

Named lead: Sarah Gentry & Corrina Bebbington

Progress to date: Co-Chairs have responded to reactive requests from the FPH including external communications, consultation responses, and supporting experts to provide evidence (Tobacco and Vapes Bill).

Outputs: Develop structures and processes for responding to SIG reactive requests.

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