Local authority and health organisations in Cheshire have signed up to the Cheshire Charter, devised and delivered by heart disease and stroke prevention charity, Heart of Mersey.

The Charter is an accreditation scheme which aims to protect staff working in the community from exposure to the harmful effects of second hand tobacco smoke.  
First to sign up to the Cheshire Charter was Warrington Borough Council. Receiving the Charter at its official launch recently, the Council's Head of Public Protection, Peter Astley, said:
'This initiative builds on the success of smokefree legislation; it's a way of further protecting our staff and of further spreading the tobacco control message to our communities. It increases awareness of the health benefits of smokefree in all environments including the home.'

NHS Central and Eastern Cheshire was the first primary care trust, together with Cheshire East Community Health,  to commit to the Charter. Assistant Director of Public Health, Jane Branson commented:
'Our achievement of the Cheshire Charter accreditation confirms our commitment to the health of our staff and sets the standard for best practice in this area. We will be encouraging our partners to follow our example.'

The Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has also received accreditation, the first acute mental health Trust in Cheshire to do so.
The introduction of smokefree legislation on 1 July 2007 prohibited all smoking in workplaces in England, following similar legislation in other parts of the UK and Ireland.

The Charter recognises that for community staff, visits to clients in their own homes could place them at risk from second-hand smoke. In these circumstances, a client's home becomes, temporarily, a workplace for staff.

In the spirit of smoke free legislation, organisations with Cheshire Charter accreditation will request that a client provide a room which has been smoke free for a minimum of 30 minutes, as far as is practicable, prior to a planned visit by community staff.

Other Charter criteria specify that the organisation has a smokefree workplace policy, and that it advises client's and staff on ways to minimise their risk of exposure to second-hand smoke, and also advises on smokefree issues and stop smoking services. 

Heart of Mersey Chief Executive, Robin Ireland said, 'The strength of the Charter lies in the range of organisations which have committed to developing policies and working practices to recognise the importance of the dangers of second-hand smoke. Attaining Charter status demonstrates a commitment to cultural change within an organisation and the influence it can have on the health of the community in which it works.'

Other organisations currently accredited with the Cheshire Charter include Golden Gates Housing [Warrington], Halton Borough Council and the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. Ten other organisations are currently working towards accreditation.