More cash for ASH

The government has created a £450,000 Tobacco and Vapes Implementation Grant "to support implementation and impact of the Tobacco and Vapes Act". It looks tailor-made for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).

 

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is making £150,000 per year available for the financial years 2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29. A total of £450,000 of grant funding is available. The intention of this grant is to support implementation and impact of the Tobacco and Vapes Act which introduces a range of new measures making major changes in the tobacco and vaping landscape.

 

What "support" does this legislation require? Mainly, it seems to require some propaganda to make it look like a success...

 

Surveys and polling

•  Working with DHSC, identify surveys and polling which could support implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Act.

• Undertake agreed surveys and polling. 

• Feedback findings to DHSC in an accessible format. 

 

And...

 

Support for local communications for a smoke-free UK, building on national communication plans. 

 

But it's not all about "support". Either ASH keeps moving or it dies. It must always find new dragons to slay and it has always relied on taxpayers' money to develop exciting new policies. Therefore part of the £450,000 can be used to... 

 

Work with DHSC to identify and develop the right research and investigative frameworks to support the development of future vaping and nicotine product policy, e.g. analysis on the health impacts of specific substances or ingredients.  

 

Produce and disseminate supportive evidence-based resources to make the case for continued tobacco control measures and investment, with a focus on cost-benefit analysis. 

 

If you're thinking that anybody could do that, you're wrong because...

 

Eligibility

Funding is available using the powers set out in section 70 of the Charities Act 2006. To be eligible to apply for the grant organisations must therefore be charities, or charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic in purpose.

 

By a stroke of luck, ASH is a charity.

 

Ker-ching!  

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