Let's Be Clear for a Smokefree Future

10 June 2026

A pioneering smoking cessation programme is helping transform lives across Cambridgeshire, supporting people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage to move "one day closer" to better health, stability, and recovery. 

Cambridgeshire County is one of the twelve local authorities that make up the East of England Tobacco Control Initiative 'Let's Be Clear.' 

The One Day Closer service delivers tailored stop smoking support, combining evidence-based smoking cessation interventions with wider wellbeing support in a compassionate, person-centred model of care. 

The programme operates across Cambridgeshire in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council's Housing First and Changing Futures services, strengthening its reach among people facing the most complex needs. 

Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable illness in the UK, and although smoking rates have reduced to just 1 in 10 in the general population, they remain as high as 77-86% in those experiencing homelessness.  This is a major cause of poorer health seen in this group. Life expectancy is also significantly reduced, underlining the need for targeted, accessible interventions. 

One Day Closer addresses these inequalities by working flexibly within communities, supporting people in hostels, temporary accommodation, rough sleeping settings and other insecure housing situations. By integrating support within trusted services — including housing, and community organisations — the programme reaches those often excluded from traditional healthcare.  

Change Grow Live is a Cambridgeshire-based drug and alcohol treatment service ensuring seamless access for individuals already engaged in recovery support. 

Participants receive up to 12-24 weeks of support, including one-to-one specialist sessions, free nicotine replacement therapy, vape kits, and carbon monoxide monitoring. For those not yet ready to stop completely, the service offers "cut down to quit" pathways that support gradual change. 

Importantly, One Day Closer provides holistic wellbeing support alongside smoking cessation. This includes health checks, social prescribing, and connections to wider services, recognising that smoking is often part of broader and interconnected challenges. The programme also includes an incentive scheme of up to £150 for participants who achieve a 24-week quit, helping to encourage sustained engagement and positive behaviour change. 

Improving data collection and strengthening workforce capability are central features of the programme, with training delivered across partner services to enable staff to identify smoking-related harm, offer brief interventions, and refer into treatment. This strengthens a whole-system approach across homelessness, treatment, and recovery pathways. 

A further priority is delivering targeted campaigns to improve awareness and engagement. Artwork shaped by lived experience plays a central role, helping promote the service in a way that is relevant, accessible, and non-judgemental, while reinforcing that change is possible. The service also promotes smokefree environments within supported accommodation, helping organisations create healthier spaces while ensuring residents receive practical and compassionate support to reduce or quit smoking. 

The impact of One Day Closer has been remarkable. The programme has achieved a 75% quit rate alongside an outstanding 98% client satisfaction score, demonstrating the effectiveness of tailored, trauma-informed support for people experiencing homelessness. 

Among the programme's many success stories is Gary, who experienced long-term homelessness alongside drug and alcohol dependence. After decades of instability, Gary engaged with One Day Closer to address a 50-year history of smoking. Through consistent support and a person-centred approach, he successfully quit smoking while also stabilising his recovery journey. 

Today, Gary is housed, stable in recovery, debt free, and managing his finances effectively. He now volunteers at a local homelessness hostel, using his lived experience to support others facing similar challenges. 

Gary's journey demonstrates the transformative power of integrated support and the importance of recognising smoking cessation as part of a wider recovery and wellbeing pathway. 

As the programme continues to develop across Cambridgeshire, One Day Closer remains committed to reducing health inequalities, improving quality of life, and ensuring that people experiencing homelessness have equitable access to compassionate and effective healthcare support. 

Amy Watling-Cash, Specialist Lead for the One Day Closer programme, said: 

"Too often, people experiencing homelessness are told their smoking is the least of their worries. One Day Closer challenges that idea. We've shown that with the right support, delivered with kindness, compassion and a trauma-informed approach, people can make positive changes that improve not only their physical health, but also their confidence, recovery and overall quality of life." 

Sally Cartwright, Director of Public Health, Cambridgeshire County Council, said: 

"Too many people experiencing homelessness face some of the worst health outcomes in our communities, and smoking remains a major contributor to that inequality. What makes One Day Closer so important is its ability to meet people where they are, offering genuine, compassionate support in settings they trust. It's a powerful example of how we can work differently to make our services more inclusive and ensure everyone has a fairer chance to improve their health."