Smokefree Bolton: community led and locally driven

Over the past year, Smokefree Bolton has been shaped by the people and communities it serves.

Not assumptions, not templates, but real conversations, local insight and shared priorities. The work focused on visibility, accessibility and building trust, giving people clearer routes to support through messaging that felt familiar, relevant and rooted in Bolton.

Campaign focus

Four key areas underpinned the work:

• general smoking awareness
• smoking and mental health
• illegal tobacco, both business and consumer impact
• shisha awareness and education

Every channel, message and touchpoint was built to land in places people already pay attention to, using language and platforms they recognise.

What we delivered

• out of home advertising across key Bolton locations
• radio advertising on Bolton FM
• a full reskin of the Smokefree Bolton web page, now a working resource hub for support and downloads
• free campaign toolkits and materials for partners, workplaces and community groups
• posters and leaflets distributed across the borough
• community banners for events, outreach and local touchpoints
• ongoing social content and paid digital campaigns

The website shift was a turning point, moving from a static info page to a practical support space where people can access guidance, resources and campaign assets in one place.

Progress, backed by data

New figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (4/11/25) confirmed Bolton has reached its lowest ever adult smoking rate at 11.5%.

In 2023, adult smoking sat at 14.4%. The 2024 data show a fall to 11.5%, marking a significant drop in 12 months.

Lynn Donkin, Bolton’s Director of Public Health, said:

“It’s encouraging to see smoking rates continuing to fall nationally, and I’m pleased that Bolton’s adult smoking prevalence has now reached its lowest recorded level at 11.5%.
This marks real progress locally and reflects a positive trend in closing the gap with the national average.
However, we remain focused on tackling the persistent inequalities in smoking, particularly in our more deprived communities.”

Read the full Bolton News coverage here.

The feedback we value most

“A huge thank you to Portfolio for all your support and hard work in helping me create Smokefree Bolton. Please take some of this credit. You’ve helped push this forward with equal enthusiasm and it is paying off. It is making a difference to people’s lives in Bolton.”

Vicky Scowcroft, Public Health Practitioner

What’s next

The work keeps moving, and so do the priorities.

Over the coming months and into 2026, the campaign will focus on:

• translating campaign content into more languages, starting with shisha awareness
• expanding reach into communities where English isn’t the first language
• supporting longer term quit attempts and lasting habit change
• tackling smoking in the workplace with tools, guidance and employer support

This is ongoing work, not a short push or a moment in time.
It takes consistency, presence and repetition.

It’s not about ticking boxes, it’s about making things better here, for everyone.