/ BECOMING A CAMPAIGNER

Campaigning is not difficult to do; it involves getting people with the same views together and finding a way to express these views to the people who can make a difference. One of the easiest ways to begin campaigning is to start a discussion with people to find out who has got the same views as you, then you can decide what action you want to take.

For example; Liverpool based anti-tobacco youth group D-MYST successfully campaigned for smokefree sports stadia, including a petition of over 8000 local signatures, which resulted in both Liverpool and Everton FC deciding to make their stadia entirely smokefree.

Remember you don’t have to try to change something massive or to try to change the world, small positive changes can have an impact on many people.

If you have 2 minutes

Follow our links to sign our petition and email your MP.

Act now on child labour | Speak out on the tobacco industry

If you have 4 minutes

Join our Facebook page and help spread the word to your friends.

If you have 8 minutes

Register on the site and start or join a discussion.

If you have half an hour

Have a conversation with your friends / youth group / Class about the impact that the tobacco industry has had on you. Download our resource pack for some ideas on how to get things started.

You could also encourage people to send letters or emails to your local Councillor or MP to raise their awareness of the negative practices of the tobacco industry and how it impacts on young people across the world.

Don’t forget that your concerns and views are important. You do not need to use long words, or try to impress people, if you write in a natural style being factual, polite and positive you have more chance of your letter being given attention.

If you are part of a youth group or a member of a school council, talk to your Youth Worker or Teacher about becoming involved with, or starting an anti-tobacco group (click on Handy Stuff for details of your local group).

Please let us know what you’re doing in your area by emailing smokeandmirrors@smokefreenorthwest.org.uk. You can also contact us for any help or further information.

/ OUR PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN EVENTS

/BAT AGM 2010

This years BAT AGM has taken place and representatives from Smoke & Mirrors alongside other youth groups and ASH made the most of the opportunity to have their voices heard.

Approximately 30 young people from across the Country took part in one of the noisiest BAT AGM demonstrations yet, to raise awareness of the issue of Child Labour in tobacco farming.

Young people were able to directly ask shareholders their opinions and to put their point of view across, as well as rallying support from passing motorists and pedestrians.

• “We went to the BAT AGM which was full of it’s shareholders to protest against child labour and all the other negative aspects of BAT. We did that because we have strong opinions on the matter.”
• “I really had my point of view heard. The Big Shout is about having your say, being heard and I really did that today.”
• “I think that this year’s AGM was the best turnout. We got our point across very well”

/NETWORK EVENT 2010

In March 2010 young people got together to learn about and discuss negative practices of the tobacco industry.

Following on from our Campaign weekend in October 2009, this was an opportunity for young people to get together tell us what they’d achieved since we last met and also to design the next stage of the Smoke & Mirrors Campaign.

After listening to speakers from ASH, 38 Degrees and the young people from STAMP, the participants were able to discuss the issues they felt passionate about with professionals from the anti-tobacco movement.

A fun-packed afternoon provided opportunities for participants to attend workshops in digital flyer design, chanting, how to handle the media and Banner making.

Some of the reflections on the day…

• “Media training and Banner making meant I learned new skills”
• “It really helped me to see what is going on in the world”
• “All the workshops were really useful”
• “I want to learn more about this”
• “really accessable training”

/ THE SMOKE & MIRRORS CAMPAIGN WEEKEND

Around 100 young people aged 14 to18 came together at a celebrity-packed youth campaign weekend – Smoke & Mirrors – to expose the negative practices of the tobacco industry.

A unique opportunity was given to join, hear from and work with some of the world’s leading experts and campaigners who were invited to share their understanding of the Tobacco Industry issues.

The weekend was also the culmination of a young people’s short film competition, which has been created with the support of Hollyoaks actors Matt Littler, Carley Stenson and Darren Jeffries. Students were asked to create short film ideas that focused on getting across important messages on how cigarettes are extensively marketed to young people despite existing advertising restrictions on the tobacco industry.

By the end of the weekend, a deeper understanding of the negative Tobacco Industry practices was gained and everyone worked together to develop campaign strategies, look at what actions you want to take, and had an input into selecting the three film ideas to be produced.

Young people came from schools and youth groups from across the region, including Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside.

Other supporters on the weekend included Phil Redmond CBE, creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, Ian McCartney MP, Jean King from Cancer Research UK, Martin Dockrell, Director of Research and Policy at ASH and leading international expert on tobacco control, Professor Stan Glantz.