local tobacco alliance funding 2008-09
briefing paper
 
Section 1 - Background
 
Fresh-Smoke Free North East was launched in 2005 and over this period, local tobacco alliances have been developed across the region, with 15 now in place, covering 17/25 local authorities and 11/12 Primary Care Trusts within the North East. Evidence based and effective local tobacco control activity, coordinated by a multi agency and strategically aligned local tobacco alliance is crucial, in addition to the continued delivery of policy and programmes at the national and regional levels.
 
The North East local tobacco alliances have played a vital role to the success of the overall Fresh programme during the last three years, and have been supported throughout this period by the Fresh Office including: the provision of strategic guidance and input to planning processes, the roll out of regional training programmes, intensive media support and coordination; and more recently through the practical guidance and input from the Alliance Toolkit.
 
In addition to the above, financial support through the provision of the Fresh local alliance grant scheme, using Department of Health regional tobacco monies has also been available to all alliances from 2005-2008. A good uptake of the grants was seen across all areas in the first two years particularly 2006-07 around the SF Law.
 
Section 2 - Local alliance support
 
In 2008/8, Fresh will continue to support the local alliances through a comprehensive programme of activity, covering eight key strands of tobacco control which is set out in the Fresh Business Plan 2008/9. The Plan offers a detailed context of the key priorities going forward and local alliances will find this useful when developing their own local tobacco action plans. The Smoke Free North East Network will have a key role of drawing together all the local tobacco alliances to collaborate on this important planning and sharing practice through reporting activity.
 
The grants scheme as detailed in the Fresh Alliance Toolkit was applicable for financial year 2007-08 and a new system will now need to be adopted across the region. The reasons for this is the Department of Health have directed all regions to implement a region wide programme (which the North East already has in place) and not to implement generic local alliance grants schemes, as it has been difficult for them to evaluate their impact and ensure that an evidence based approach has been adopted. Fresh also believes the new system to be more equitable to local alliances and will encourage other partners to get involved in the tobacco control agenda.
 
It is important to emphasise that the previous funds were there to ‘bolster’ local activity and were not intended to be the sole funding source for tobacco control. There is a national and regional expectation, that given the priority of reducing smoking and health inequalities, local funds (whether mainstream or time limited) should continue to be made available for both effective local tobacco control work, in addition to the provision of a local NHS Stop Smoking Service.
 
Section 3 - New Funding Streams
 
This change at a national level does not mean that monies will not be available for specific tobacco control activities that are clearly linked to local alliance action plans. The overall regional programme as set out in the Fresh Business Plan 2008/9 will benefit all localities with substantial funds used to implement activity at the local level.
 
In line with the eight key strands, areas of activity have been identified under section 4 where some funding will be available to local tobacco control alliances to help boost activity. These have been identified with the assumption that the local alliance will develop and deliver a comprehensive action plan, clearly identifying regional and local priorities. The activity in section 4 should not be considered as more important or become the sole focus for an alliance, there are key work areas which will still remain a high priority including:
 
Ø      Effective local stop smoking provision, including targeting and access of routine and manual worker smokers
Ø      Implementation of local activity using the forthcoming Regional Action Plan to reduce smoking before, during and after pregnancy
Ø      Smokefree policy support and development for mental health settings
Ø      Local authority statutory responsibilities around existing tobacco related legislation
 
Tackling cheap and illicit tobacco is a clear regional priority and there is a large piece of work currently underway to develop an effective regional and local action plan. It is not possible at this time to identify funds for local activity until this plan is fully consulted upon and approved by all key partners, as this will include the development of relevant training packages and community pilots.
 
Section 4 - Areas of activity in which regional monies are available for the local tobacco alliances
 
Implementation
This is considered a draft proposal until the Fresh business plan 2008-09 has been signed off by relevant partners and the budget allocation confirmed/received from the DH. Clarification on funding amounts available under each key strand cannot be given until the latter has been finalised. 
 
Key Strand 1: Infrastructure, skills and capacity
 
  1. To support the forthcoming consultation on a National Tobacco Strategy, funds will be available for the organisation of local consultation events, focus groups, promotional activities
 
Key Strand 2: Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke
 
  1. Secondhand smoke education and training package (Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation): to be implemented across the local area in a variety of settings, delivered by key partners and overseen/evaluated by the local tobacco control alliance or sub-group.
 
Key strand 4: Media, communications, social marketing and education
 
Youth Advocacy, Education and Awareness:
 
  1. Funding for a youth advocacy pilot in local areas based upon the D-Myst model in Liverpool which would have clear links to the local tobacco control alliance and regional smoking and young people’s group.
 
  1. Funding for an innovative and evidence based youth education package to be delivered across local schools/colleges in the area e.g. support for further pilots of the Key Stage 4 Gibber production recently commissioned by Newcastle PCT
 
Key Strand 7: Reducing tobacco promotion
 
  1. Point of sale advertising: funding for Local Authority Trading Standards departments to conduct a mapping of point of sale advertising across the local area. This will feed into the national consultation and the work will follow a template developed by LACORs.
 
Section 5 - Eligibility and Process to Receive Funds
Funding will only be available to local areas which have a clearly established local tobacco control alliance and have submitted their draft action plan to Fresh by the agreed deadline (30 May 2008). There will be no funding application process as all the DH funded activity should be identified within the local action plan. An appendix to this briefing paper will be produced giving final details of funding amounts and how to invoice Fresh which will be distributed via the SFNE Network.