A ground-breaking DVD which delivers some hard hitting messages about smoking is being launched by Health Challenge Neath Port Talbot as part of No Smoking Day 2010.
‘When I Was In Year 7..’ sees a group of young actors from the Mark Jermin Stage School deliver messages about the negative effects of smoking to young people aged between 11 and 12.
The DVD uses a series of monologues, each focussing on an issue which might influence young people to take up smoking. Topics such as self-esteem, stress, weight loss and peer pressure all come under the spotlight in an hour long performance.
Chair of the Smoke Free Neath Port Talbot group Karen Jones said research has shown that the majority of young people start smoking around the age of 11.
She said: “Many young people who smoke start in the early years of secondary school.
“It is vital that we target this age group with the right messages to ensure they don’t start smoking in the first place.”
The performances were supported by sporting starts from the Ospreys and The Swans and received national recognition after coming runner-up in the Most Unusual/Innovative Event at the No Smoking Day awards held last year.
Mrs Jones said the event was well received by all the young people who attended.
“The DVD builds on the success of the No Smoking event held last year,” she said.
“It will be distributed to all comprehensive schools in Neath Port Talbot and health partners will be able to use it to reinforce the message that smoking can seriously increases the risk of health problems in children and adolescents.”
