FREE digital stop smoking support has been offered to Barnsley residents following the launch of a new scheme.

As part of the new ‘Turn the Corner’ campaign, the Centre of Excellence in conjunction with Barnsley Council and Yorkshire Cancer Research, is urging smokers to get free quit support to help them stop smoking, including downloading the Smoke Free app.

The 29,700 people who smoke in Barnsley can get six months’ free access to all the features on the app which helps people control cravings, monitor health improvements and money saved, and even chat to a stop smoking expert 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This also includes stop smoking aids as part of the campaign (nicotine replacement therapy, medication, vapes) worth up to an overall total £300.

Quitting smoking not only improves health, but it can lead to significantly more money in your pocket since the average person who smokes spends over £2,000 every year on smoking.

Sarah Hepworth, associate director of South Yorkshire Tobacco Alliance, said: “Smoking is an addiction that is uniquely harmful in that it kills two in three long term users.

“In Yorkshire and Humber, around 7,500 people die from smoking each year, and it/ remains/ the leading cause of preventable illness and death in England.

“We know that quitting smoking is difficult, so that’s why we want to make it as easy as possible for anyone who smokes to access free stop smoking support that works for them as the right support can make all the difference.

“There are more effective ways to quit than ever before including support from our friendly, expert stop smoking services, quitting aids, medications and the Smoke Free app.

“You are three times more likely to quit with the right support so if you work shifts, are limited for time or have young children you can now access extra support on your phone to stop.

“The app offers a different form of personalised support and it’s like having a 24/7 stop smoking advisor in your pocket.”