Not Around Us
Not Around Us is a new awareness campaign asking everyone to consider young people present in public spaces and to make these places smoke-free and vape-free environments. This will help to improve everyone's health and help to de-normalise smoking and vaping for the next generation. The campaign is a step towards a Tobacco Free Longford.
Not Around Us is an ask, it's not an order: people are being asked to consider the health of children and young people when deciding whether or not to smoke or vape in places that may have children and young people present.
This is a national local authority initiative rolled out by Healthy Ireland and supported by Comhairle na nÓg.
Why be part of the Not Around Us campaign?
Not Around Us encourages us all to not smoke or vape in public spaces where children and young people may be present. This will help to children and young people from second-hand smoke and denormalise smoking and vaping.
It will also be better for our environment, reducing litter and the damage that discarded cigarettes and vapes create.
The campaign is also helping to raise awareness of HSE Quit services for people who smoke and vape. It is helping us on the way to a Tobacco Free Longford.
How to get involved?
County Longford playgrounds, outdoor gyms and skateparks will be the first places that the Not Around Us campaign will focus on to create smoke and vape free environments.
In 2026, the campaign aims to work with local businesses, organisations and events taking place in the county to make them smoke and vape-free also.
Join us and be part of the Not Around Us campaign by emailing HealthyLongford@longfordcoco.ie or phone the Healthy Ireland Coordinator for Longford, Laura McHugh on 087 277 78 43
Campaign Collaboration and Partners
This is a national campaign, rolled out locally in County Longford by Longford County Council and Healthy Longford. It is supported by Longford Comhairle na nÓg.
There are also numerous collaboration and support partners, including Longford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Longford Westmeath Children and Young Peoples Services Committee, the Department of Health, Longford Youth Services, the Health Service Executive (HSE), EDI Centre Longford and An Garda Síochána Longford.
The initiative is funded by Healthy Ireland funding through Healthy Longford.
The campaign is also linked with the Longford County Council Parks, Playgrounds and Open Spaces Byelaws 2024, which state that all parks, children’s playgrounds, skateparks, and multi-use games areas (MUGA) provided by or under the control or management of the Council are designated as Smoke Free and it is prohibited to smoke or use tobacco-based products within these areas.
Useful Links and Resources
