Vaping body to support homeless in quitting smoking

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has joined forces with the Ipswich Night Shelter, a project run by the Selig (Suffolk) Trust (a registered charity providing services and support for those who become homeless), to support people staying across the winter months to switch to a less harmful alternative to combustible cigarettes.

The Ipswich Winter Night Shelter operates across the winter, from November through March, and provides a number of en-suite bedrooms in their purpose-adapted premises for people from Ipswich who have found themselves homeless. Last year, they had 20 guests stay with them across the winter, and they hope to accommodate more this winter, UKVIA said.

The shelter has allocated a vaping room for their guests to vape when they want to throughout the day and night, and approached the UKVIA to seek donations from its members in providing vaping devices and e-liquids.

UKVIA members Oxford Vapours, Riot Labs, and V2 Cigs UK have provided hundreds of devices, e-liquids, refillable pods and nicotine salts to the Ipswich Night Shelter, in support of their guests making the transition to a less harmful alternative.

Evidence so far indicates that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking as they don’t contain tobacco or involve combustion, and using a vaping product as part of a quit attempt in local stop smoking services had some of the highest quit success rates – between 59.7 per cent and 74 per cent in 2019 and 2020.

John Dunne, Director-General of the UKVIA, said, “We know how important it is to ensure everyone has access to alternative nicotine products, which is why we were delighted to support the Night Shelter.

The evidence tells us the effectiveness of vaping in reducing harms associated with smoking and how they support people wishing to quit cigarettes for good.

The UKVIA recognises its role in this national effort and will continue to support homeless charities across the UK and the residents they provide shelter to.”