Between July 2023 and May 2024, Haringey Council worked with five schools to create School Superzones. Working in partnership with the Mayor of London and Insight Platform, each school participated in collaborative work to tackle vaping in young people.
Fortismere School, Gladesmore School, Park View School, Heartlands School, and Hornsey School for Girls all agreed to be part of this important initiative and the results have already shown a significant difference.
A case study from one participating school has shown a reduction in the numbers of students excluded due to vaping, demonstrating the successful impact of the School Superzones programme.
Insight Platform have also supported 56 young people with their vaping usage following a referral from a school, giving dedicated and tailored support to these individuals.
Cllr Lucia das Neves, Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Wellbeing said
“We’re extremely proud of this cross-cutting and collaborative work that has listened to young people's experiences and will help them change their views when it comes to vaping, as well as protect their health and wellbeing.
“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners and our schools to tackle this issue and see more positive outcomes. Tackling the wider determinants of health is key to healthier communities and to prevention work, so we'll also continue to share our learning with government at London and national level.”
One school student who attended an assembly said:
“I was shocked by some of the photos of young people in hospital after vaping. I have decided it is not worth it.”
Joanne McCartney, London’s Deputy Mayor for Children and Families, said:
“It’s important that we work together to improve the health of our young people, and this School Superzones project in Haringey is a great example of what can be achieved. We’ll continue to work closely with the council and community as we build a healthier London for everyone.”
Haringey’s Trading Standards team have also worked with Public Health to target traders within 400 metres of the designated five School Superzones area.
The team disposed of over 500kg of non-compliant vapes seized from several traders over the last 18 months.
Other key milestones in the project included:
- Insight Platform delivered 12 assemblies at 4 schools to children and young people, with 3,980 students attending these assemblies.
- 70 local parents and carers attended 2 parenting workshops by Insight Platform.
- 75 teachers attended 2 teacher training workshops by Insight Platform.
- The council produced a guidance document for schools all about vaping, which has been shared widely.
- Co-production workshops were held with young people to hear and understand their thoughts and feeling around vaping, and artwork has been produced which reflects these conversations.
- Support resources were shared with parents and carers.
- Local radio station Unity Xtra broadcast a special show where young people interviewed, Professor Andrew Bush, an expert in respiratory diseases, and practitioners from Insight Platform on the health impacts of vaping and how to access support to stop.
- Haringey Public Health Team are working with licencing and trading standards to tackle illegal vapes ales in the borough.
