A new ‘stop smoking’ campaign targeting the homeless, those at risk of becoming homeless and migrant workers has been so successful funding has allowed it to be extended.
Ferry Project – a homelessness social enterprise and charity based in Wisbech – is running courses with the Smoking Cessation Partnership and says it “impressive results” are already being seen.
“Thanks to funding from Public Health Cambridgeshire, the programme went live back in September last year with the Ferry Project employing a Smoking Cessation Advisor,” said a Ferry Project spokesperson.
“To date 250 appointments have already been held and 80 per cent of those who have set a quit date have since moved on to becoming smoke free at the week 4 milestone.”
Initially the plan was for this programme to run for a year, acting as a pilot scheme to see what impact it can make for the homeless and migrant worker communities.
“Due to the early success of the scheme, further funding has been obtained to help it continue until the end of March 2026,” said the spokesperson.
“Hopefully with continued positive results from Wisbech, this scheme can be implemented in other areas of the country where smoking is a particular problem.”
In the UK, over 6 million adults smoke regularly. That’s around 12% of the population, according to the Office for National Statistics.
However, research suggests that amongst homeless people, this is as high as 78%.
Data also shows levels of smoking are abnormally high in the Fenland, at 22%.
The Ferry Project says that since smoking “is such a prevalent issue which is disproportionately impacting both the local area and the homeless community” they felt action was needed.
The charity says it has been working with the Smoking Cessation Partnership in the Wisbech Integrated Neighbourhood and have introduced a new Smoking Cessation programme to help tackle the problem.
The scheme is aimed at anyone in the homeless or migrant worker communities (including those at risk of becoming homeless) who need help to quit smoking.
It provides support tailored to the individual across a 12 week programme, during which clients will have regular face-to-face appointments as well as access to nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches and gum.
About Ferry Project
Ferry Project is a homelessness social enterprise and charity based in Wisbech. It provides help and support to homeless people in the Fenland area.
It has been operating for 25 years and in that time has had over 1000 volunteers; supported over 1000 people to access employment; provided over 450,000 nights of accommodation; there has been a member of staff awake and available 24 hours a day for over 200,000 hours; and the charity has supported over 3,500 people into accommodation.
Ferry Project is also a social enterprise where it raises its own capital by managing the Queen Mary Centre, a community centre in Wisbech.
In 2023 the Queen Mary Centre served 70,000 people out of the framework of the building and currently there are 300 appointments for wellbeing clinics being delivered from the Queen Mary Centre every week.
It also runs the Ferry Project Cookery School that teaches healthy cooking and eating to its homeless clients as well as the general public.
