Sharrow Community Forum

We specialise in an individual, tailormade stop smoking support service geared to your needs that aims to give you the skills to support you with those challenging times.

We have three support workers on hand (Urdu speaker available), Elaine Nightingale is the lead advisor:

"I love to see the difference stopping smoking makes to people. They're happier, feel calmer, have more energy and feel more confident."

"What most people don't know is that there are 4000 harmful chemicals in cigarettes. If you were to cut out cigarettes and start using something else, like nicotine patches, you will have said goodbye to 3999 of those! You'll only be taking in nicotine, which we would gradually reduce during your support. This makes stopping a lot easier!"

How does the support work?

Ring or pop into Shipshape where you'll have time to talk through any of the areas you have found difficult in the past and get good problem solving advice. You will get support in choosing the right product for you, from a range of patches, gums, lozengers, Zyban and Champrix.

• Additional support with stress worries and weight control is also available if you need it.
• 7-12 weeks of support, either face to face, by phone or email.
• Each client gets up to an hour for each appointment.
• Follow up support - we'll check how you're doing 3 months and 6 months after support has ended.

Shipshape has a great reputation for our clients being long term quits. Our service is free and gives our clients time to talk through any problems. Nicotine products are available from your Doctor with our service letter. So, if you pay for prescription, you will be getting two weeks worth of products at a cheaper rate, and if your prescription is free then stopping smoking will cost you nothing! Either way you will be saving and taking away health worries.

Some of the (free!) stuff we can give you to help you out:

• Cash cans - to keep all the money you are saving from not buying cigarettes.
• Stress balls
• A 'How much will you save' calculator
• Lots of information and encouragement - discover all the positive things that happen when you stop!

What do people say?

"The friendly support I got made all the difference, I have tried to quit a couple of times before but not kept it up for long. When I got stressed I always picked up the cig's. The advice I got has been really practical and helpful. The stress support was great, I have been stopped for 6 months and feel fantastic."

"I have saved £100 in three weeks! I am saving for a new computer."

"I am enjoying the driving lessons I could not afford before."

"The Shipshape staff were really encouraging and helpful, I could not have done it without them."