Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland
People at the Centre

Become a member

ASH Scotland seeking third sector partners to get involved in a new approach to reducing smoking harm

  • Area of Work: Children and Young People
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 1st April 2026

Working together to support families through a new whole household approach

ASH Scotland are exploring a Whole Household Approach (WHA) to support families and are seeking third sector organisations to partner with them on this work.

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable harm in Scotland — and its impact is not evenly felt. Families living in more challenging circumstances are more likely to experience higher rates of smoking, greater exposure to second-hand smoke, and the wider health and financial pressures that come with it.

Rather than focusing only on individuals, a Whole Household Approach recognises that smoking behaviours are shaped within households — through relationships, routines, stress, and shared environments.

The Whole Household Approach will seek to work with families as a whole, supporting:

  • people who smoke or vape
  • children and others affected by exposure
  • the wider pressures that influence behaviour

It combines support for quitting, harm reduction, and creating smoke-free homes, delivered in a way that is non-judgemental, trauma-informed, and rooted in trust.

This is not about adding pressure — it’s about creating opportunities for change that feel realistic and achievable.

ASH Scotland recognises that many people engage most meaningfully with services they already trust.

Third sector organisations play a vital role in supporting families — often building relationships over time and working alongside people through complex challenges such as housing insecurity, financial stress, and family pressures. This positions the WHA as well designed to work with the third sector.

ASH Scotland are looking to partner with organisations that support families and households — including:

  • family and early years services
  • housing and tenancy support
  • money and debt advice services
  • community wellbeing organisations

Partners are not expected to become cessation specialists. Instead, they will be supported to:

  • have simple, supportive conversations about smoking in the household
  • help reduce children’s exposure to smoke
  • connect people to existing services such as Quit Your Way

This builds on what services already do — adding small, meaningful changes that can make a big difference.

Get involved

ASH Scotland are keen to connect with third sector organisations who are interested in being part of this work, whether as a pilot partner or to find out more.

If your organisation supports families or households and this approach resonates with your work, the team at ASH Scotland would welcome a conversation.

Please contact the Engagement Team to explore how you can get involved by emailing engagement@ashscotland.org.uk

End of page.

You may also like:

Back to all news