Kids insist 'not around us' in new anti-smoking campaign 

A NEW anti-smoking campaign was launched recently in Carlow town hall, a joint initiative between Carlow and Kilkenny local authorities.

Minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor was on hand to launch the campaign. The idea behind the initiative is to encourage young people to get involved in making healthier, smoke and vape-free outdoor environments. Minister Murnane O’Connor highlighted the key messages from the campaign: “The Not Around Us campaign is about ensuring that children and young people can experience smoke and vape-free spaces and environments. The goal of the campaign is to denormalise these habits around our youth.”

Chairperson of Carlow Healthy County Committee Lynda Stacey said: "We’re offering information and supports to quit, but at its core, this campaign is about respecting what young people are asking for ‒ to protect the spaces where they train, gather and play." The campaign's striking branding, signage, consultation toolkits and video were developed in collaboration with members of Carlow and Kilkenny's Comhairle na nÓg, supported by a campaign working group involving Carlow and Kilkenny county councils and children and young people's services (CYPSC) in Túsla. Organisations interested in the campaign can contact Healthy Carlow co-ordinator at community@carlowcoco.ie.