Next round of Smokefree Community Grants opens for applications

Image by G.C. from Pixabay

Voluntary and community organisations across Derbyshire are being invited to apply for grants to help them create smokefree, healthier environments.

This is part of Derbyshire County Council’s Smokefree Community Grants programme.

Grants of up to £1,000 are available to help organisations develop and promote smokefree spaces within their communities.

The scheme is funded through £90,000 of Government stop smoking funding and applications are open until Monday 23rd November 2026.

Councillor Dan Price, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Safety, said: “Our community venues are at the heart of local life and have a unique opportunity to support healthier communities. By creating more smokefree spaces and helping people access stop smoking support, these grants can make a lasting difference to the health and wellbeing of residents across Derbyshire.”

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in Derbyshire, contributing to around 1,000 deaths across the county each year.

Research also shows that most people who smoke begin before the age of 20, many regret starting, and over half want to quit.

Successful applicants can use the funding to:

• establish outdoor smokefree areas
• recruit and support smokefree champions who can signpost people to stop smoking services
• raise awareness of the free support available through Live Life Better Derbyshire
• promote their organisation’s commitment to becoming smokefree

Expanding smokefree spaces and increasing the number of smokefree champions can help reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, particularly for children, young people and vulnerable adults, while encouraging more smokers to access support and quit.

Derbyshire’s stop smoking service, delivered by Live Life Better Derbyshire, will work alongside grant recipients to ensure residents can easily access free expert stop smoking support.

People who access stop smoking support are three times more likely to quit successfully than those who attempt to stop on their own.

For free, local, stop smoking support visit livelifebetterderbyshire.org.uk or call 0800 085 2299.

To apply for a grant visit Derbyshire Voluntary Action’s website here: dva.org.uk/smokefree-grants