Stoptober is back for 2016 to encourage smokers across England to make a quit attempt during October. Stoptober has driven almost 1 million quit attempts to date, with thousands more likely to take part this autumn, and this year there are plenty of ways for people and partners to get involved.

Whilst Stoptober is a campaign in its own right, it will now be positioned within the wider One You brand. One You is the Public Health England brand that helps adults across the country avoid future diseases caused by modern life. In addition to encouraging people to stop smoking, One You also tackles other everyday habits and behaviours such as eating too much unhealthy food, drinking more than is recommended and not being active enough.

Launched in 2012, Stoptober is the 28-day stop smoking challenge from Public Health England that encourages and supports smokers across England towards quitting for good. Stoptober is based on the insight that if you can stop smoking for 28-days, you are five times more likely to be able to stay quit for good. The campaign chunks down the quitting process, presents it as a more manageable 28 days and rallies people around a specific date to get started.

Stoptober launches in mid-September and encourages as many smokers as possible to prepare to quit from 1 October by signing up to the campaign and utilising the range of free resources and support available. Throughout October the campaign looks to continue to recruit smokers to take part, whilst also encouraging and supporting quitters through the 28-day smoke-free journey.

The overarching marketing objective is to trigger significant numbers of quit attempts, by increasing motivation to quit and providing products to make this quitting easier.

The East Riding Stop Smoking Service will be promoting and taking part in the Stoptober campaign and will be holding a number of promotional events throughout September and October (see events) including a number of events at local leisure centres across the locality.

If you want to STOP Smoking take part in the STOPTOBER campaign this year by calling the East Riding Stop Smoking Service on 0800 9177752 by texting QUIT to 60163 or by e-mailing the service at [email protected]