Five ways to get support - all free, all delivered by specialists.
Evidence shows you're up to 3× more likely to quit successfully with a specialist advisor than going it alone. Choose a stop-smoking medication, join our 12-week behavioural programme, or drop in for a chat - whichever fits your life.
Specialist care - because quitting is clinical, not cold-turkey.
We are staffed by specialist practitioners who have received intensive training in supporting people to quit - with decades of combined experience. The best results come from combining a stop-smoking medication (NRT, Champix, or a vape) with ongoing behavioural support.
Every option below is free for Waltham Forest residents, workers and students. Whether you want a structured 12-week programme with your own advisor, or prefer to drop in for a quick chat, we've got a route that fits. Your advisor will recommend the right mix at your first visit.
Swap your cigarettes for a free vape kit.
Swap to Stop is a national NHS programme offering eligible smokers a free vape starter kit plus four weeks of behavioural support. E-cigarettes contain no tobacco, no tar, and no carbon monoxide - and Public Health England confirms switching reduces the harms of smoking by at least 95%.
- Free starter kit - device, pods & charger
- Up to 95% less harmful than smoking
- Weekly behavioural check-ins for 4–12 weeks
- Pods replaced each week during your quit
- Research-backed by the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit at Queen Mary
Who can get it? Adult smokers (18+) living, working or studying in Waltham Forest. Not suitable for pregnant smokers - see NRT below.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy - patches, gum, lozenges.
NRT gives your body the nicotine it craves without the tar, carbon monoxide, or 4,000+ chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Regular smoking makes the body dependent on nicotine - quitting can trigger cravings, headaches, irritability and poor sleep. NRT takes the edge off those withdrawal symptoms so you can focus on breaking the habit.
- Patches - steady 16 or 24 hour dose, ideal for regular smokers
- Gum & lozenges - fast bursts of nicotine to tackle sudden cravings
- Inhalators, microtabs & nasal sprays - for targeted triggers
- Safe to combine (e.g. patch + gum) - your advisor will guide you
- Approved for use during pregnancy under specialist supervision
Why it works: licensed nicotine products are considerably less harmful than smoking and have helped millions quit for good.
Champix - prescribed & monitored by our specialist team.
Champix (generic name varenicline) is a clinician-prescribed course that works behind the scenes on the brain’s nicotine receptors - gently easing cravings and withdrawal while your advisor supports you week by week. It’s the most effective stop-smoking medication the NHS can offer, and our team assesses suitability for you personally before anything is prescribed.
- Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Blocks nicotine from attaching to brain receptors
- Branded and generic versions both available
- Prescribed after a clinical review with our GP/nurse team
Who it isn't for: Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and may not suit people with certain mental health or kidney conditions. Our clinician will assess suitability at your first appointment. Possible side effects include nausea, headaches, vivid dreams and sleep disturbance.
Our 12-week programme - one advisor, every step of the way.
The medicine handles the nicotine. Behavioural support handles the habit - the triggers, the routines, the “just one” moments. Our 12-week structured programme pairs you with a specialist practitioner who walks with you week-by-week through your quit attempt. That human accountability is exactly why our outcomes beat DIY quitters by a wide margin.
- Weekly one-to-one sessions for 12 weeks (in person, phone or video)
- Trigger mapping & personalised coping strategies
- Carbon monoxide breath tests to track your lungs healing
- Culturally-sensitive care - gender-specific advisors & language support
- Pairs with any medication (Swap to Stop, NRT or Champix)
- Relapse prevention planning beyond the 12 weeks
“You are far more likely to succeed in quitting if you receive specialist support than if you try to go it alone.”
- Tobacco Dependence Research Unit, Queen Mary University of London
No appointment? No problem. Drop in and chat.
Not ready to commit to a 12-week programme? Drop-in sessions let you walk in, sit down, and talk to a specialist - no booking, no paperwork, no pressure. Pop in to ask a question, pick up NRT, get your carbon monoxide checked, or start a quit attempt on the spot. Come once, come weekly - it's your call.
- No appointment needed - just turn up
- Quick 10-15 minute chat with a specialist advisor
- Collect NRT (patches, gum, lozenges) there and then
- Free carbon monoxide breath test to see your progress
- Convert to the full 12-week programme anytime
- Bring a friend or family member if you'd like
Drop-in dates and venues are updated regularly. Call 0800 169 1943 or WhatsApp us for the latest schedule - or ask your GP surgery, library or community centre if they're hosting one this week.
Which option is right for you?
Most quitters combine one medication with ongoing support. Your advisor will help you pick.
Swap to Stop
- Free vape starter kit
- 95% less harmful than smoking
- 4–12 weeks of pod replacements
- Best for heavy smokers ready to switch
NRT
- Patches, gum, lozenges & sprays
- Free on prescription
- Combinable (patch + gum)
- Approved in pregnancy (with advisor)
Champix
- Prescription tablet
- 12-week course
- Blocks nicotine reward
- Clinician assessment needed
12-Week 1-to-1
- Weekly 1-to-1 sessions
- CO breath tests
- Trigger & habit mapping
- Pairs with every medication
Drop-in Sessions
- Walk in, no appointment
- 10-15 minute chat
- Collect NRT on the spot
- Best for “just testing the waters”
Pick the right support with a specialist.
No cost, no commitment.
Book a free 30-minute consultation and our advisors will help you choose the mix that fits your lifestyle, your triggers and your quit date - or just drop in and we'll take it from there.