Stop smoking - Swap to Stop Scheme
What is the Swap to Stop scheme?
Swap to Stop is a Government public health initiative that aims to provide a fifth of the UK’s 6.4 million smokers with a free vape kit. This is to encourage smokers to move to vaping which is substantially less harmful as it contains none of the tar, tobacco and carbon monoxide present in cigarettes.
The UK Government aims to create a smoke-free UK, with less than 5% of the population smoking by 2030, through initiatives like Swap to Stop.
To find out more on the initiative, view the Government’s initial press release:
Can I get a free vape kit?
You are eligible to apply for a free vape kit if:
- you smoke tobacco
- you live, work or have a GP in Swindon
- you are over the age of 18
- you have not already received a free vape kit and e-liquids through the scheme
If you meet the criteria above, email swaptostop@swindon.gov.uk to start the process of claiming your free vape kit.
What happens next?
If you are a smoker who is keen to give vaping a go, we will send you a brief form to complete in response to your email. You need to complete this form to confirm you are eligible for the scheme.
After submitting your details, a Stop Smoking Health Coach from Live Well Swindon will contact you by phone. They will provide you with a code you can use to claim a free vape kit. Follow the guidance steps in the Totally Wicked video that shows you how to complete the online redemption process.
We have partnered with Totally Wicked who provide a vape called the Tornado GTL. Use the code to claim the device online or by phone, along with two weeks' worth of free flavoured e-liquids.
Two weeks later, we will provide a further code for two more weeks of e-liquid and two replaceable atomisers. The atomiser is part of the vape that heats the liquid and turns it into vapour.
Instructions on changing the atomiser head are available in the video below:
After you have had your four weeks of e-liquids and four weeks of brief support from a Stop Smoking Health Coach, the scheme will come to an end. You will need to purchase your own e-liquids after this point.
By registering for Swap to Stop you are agreeing for a Stop Smoking health coach to contact you up to four times to track how you are getting on with vaping and to guide you through your experience. These will only be brief check-ins.
In the fourth week, we will contact you to check the outcome of your switch to vaping.
What happens to my personal data?
By registering for Swap to Stop, you are also agreeing for us to record your data and share it with relevant partners. This is to report on the success of our scheme and to monitor the impact of our Stop Smoking service.
Full details are available in our Swap to Stop Privacy Policy.
I have never vaped before
Smoking and vaping are very different experiences so you will need time to get used to using your Tornado GTL.
Vaping regularly, at least every day, will make you more likely to fully switch from smoking.
Some people may need to adjust the airflow, while others may need to try a higher nicotine content percentage in the e-liquid or a different flavour. It is a personal choice for everyone, but you will have access to technical support online via live chat and over the phone from Totally Wicked should you have any technical questions.
- Telephone: 01254 692244
- Live chat: Totally Wicked website
- Email: smokingcessation@totallywicked.co.uk
Isn’t vaping worse than smoking?
Absolutely not. Vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking as you are exposed to far less of the toxins that cause heart disease, cancer and lung disease.
Vapes have been shown to be up to twice as effective as other forms of Nicotine replacement therapies and those who vape everyday are three times as likely to stop smoking, even if they did not intend to (Department of Health & Social Care, 2023).
See the myths and the facts on the NHS website for further information.
Are vapes bad for the environment?
Unfortunately, there is not yet a way to ensure that all components of the GTL Tornado are incorporated in a recycling scheme. As suggested by Action on Smoking and Health (PDF), we need to keep working with the vaping industry to encourage them to develop devices that can be recycled entirely.
However, you can place your used e-liquid bottles in your plastics recycling plus, when you stop using your GTL Tornado in the future, you can recycle the battery at most large supermarkets.
For other recycling options, use our Waste Wizard for guidance on what can be recycled and how.
What about children vaping or people who have never smoked?
Just like Chris Whitty advised, the Swap to Stop scheme is not about encouraging vaping in children or people who have never smoked.
We only support the use of legal vapes to help people stop smoking. In fact, efforts to reduce vaping and smoking in children and young people is one of the six priorities of our tobacco control strategy for 2023-2028 (PDF).
We are deeply opposed to the marketing of vapes to young people and support the tightening of laws around advertising proposed in the tobacco and vapes bill.
It is illegal to sell tobacco products or vape devices to anyone under 18 years old. Swindon residents are more likely to find out first where stores are selling tobacco products or vape devices illegally so, if you are aware of this happening, we urge you to report it anonymously to Trading Standards South West.
Swap to Stop won’t work for me, but I do want to stop smoking
Quitting smoking is not an easy process. Typically, the average smoker takes around six attempts at quitting before they succeed, sometimes many more. No matter how long it takes, every experience represents more learning that you can apply to overcome smoking in the future.
If Swap to Stop is not the quit approach for you, there are many other ways to stop smoking ranging from nicotine replacement therapies, to 8 to 12 weeks of behavioural support and medications that can help you manage your cravings.
More information about these options, available through our in-house stop smoking provider Live Well, is featured on our stop smoking service webpage. Instructions on how to refer directly to them is also available.
Equally, there is varied support available through some of the pharmacies and GP surgeries across Swindon. If you'd like to find out more about the quit method and support provided in Swindon that is most appropriate for you, email swindon.stopsmoking@nhs.net or call 07341 077530 for more guidance.
Apply for your free vape kit
You can claim your free vape kit and start the journey to a better state of health by emailing swaptostop@swindon.gov.uk.
Contact information
If you have any issues applying by email to swaptostop@swindon.gov.uk, contact our local Stop Smoking service on 07341 077530 or visit Sanford House, Sanford Street, Swindon, SN1 1HE - Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 4.30pm.
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