A year smoke free and looking ahead – Stephen’s story

Before accessing support through Smokefree Norfolk, Stephen had already experienced success with quitting smoking in the past, having remained smoke free for nine years. However, following a significant life trauma, he returned to smoking and found that the habit had become part of his daily routine once again. Motivated by his health, finances and encouragement from his partner, Stephen decided it was time to quit for good and sought support to help him achieve his goal.

Smokefree Norfolk provides personalised support to help people quit smoking and stay smoke free. Through one-to-one coaching, behavioural support and access to stop smoking aids, participants receive tailored guidance to overcome challenges and build long-term confidence. Our advisors work closely with participants throughout their quit journey, helping them stay motivated and develop strategies that support lasting success.

“My motivation for quitting was a combination of factors. I wanted to improve my health, save money and my partner was very keen for me to stop smoking as well. I had quit before and stayed smoke free for nine years. Unfortunately, after experiencing a life trauma, I found myself returning to smoking again. When I was smoking, it had become a habitual behaviour. I remember being in a pub garden and having to stand away from everyone else so I could smoke. I remember thinking to myself, ‘This is silly. I need to stop.’”

“When I contacted the service, I felt quite positive. I'd done it before, so I knew it was possible. It never felt as difficult as I thought it was going to be, but I also recognised that support would help me stay on track. I chose to use nicotine patches and mouth sprays as part of my quit attempt, and I found them really helpful in managing cravings and maintaining my focus on quitting. One of the most valuable parts of the programme was the rounded support I received. The stop smoking products were useful, but Gemma's weekly phone calls made a huge difference. I genuinely looked forward to speaking with her each week.”

Our Stop Smoking Coaches will create a personalised quit plan, with the latest evidenced-based, behavioural change approaches. They will help to make informed decisions about using nicotine replacement products or a vape to help stop smoking and improve health.

“During the programme, I went through radiotherapy, which was a particularly difficult time. It affected my mood on occasions and could easily have become a reason to start smoking again. Despite those challenges, I remained determined not to undo all the hard work I had put in. Knowing how much time, effort and support had been invested in helping me succeed motivated me to keep going.”

“I found the service brilliant. I'd genuinely rate it 10 out of 10. For me, Gemma was the service. Her support, encouragement and commitment played a huge part in helping me reach my goal. I'm incredibly proud to say that I've now been smoke free for a full year. I still have ongoing health issues, but I feel pleased knowing that smoking is no longer one of them.”

“One of the benefits of quitting has been the money I've saved. Rather than spending it on cigarettes, I'm planning to enjoy more weekends in London, watching shows and making the most of my time away. Looking back, quitting smoking has given me a renewed sense of achievement and control. The support I received helped me stay focused through difficult circumstances, and reaching one year smoke free has shown me just how much is possible when you commit to making a positive change.”