Ayrshire College staff and students have voted in overwhelming numbers to make all of their campuses Smoke Free from this session onwards.

The move to a smoke free working and learning environment has now been officially implemented and will enhance the health and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors to the College.

Smoking will now be prohibited on all campuses, car parks and college grounds across Ayrshire College.

Every student will be made aware of the new Smoke Free Procedure throughout the induction process.

Lorna Wales, Inclusive Learning Assistant at Ayrshire College, gave up smoking in December 2014.

She said: “I’ve calculated that since giving up I’ve saved almost £2,000.

“I stopped as my daughter is getting married in February and was desperate for me to stop.

"The ‘My Last Cigarette’ app has been a real help as it records your health benefits and savings.

"Hopefully the college becoming smoke free will encourage more people to try to stop.” HND Fitness student Megan Thompson, 28 from Kilmarnock, has also recently quit smoking.

She said: “As I was going for a career in the fitness industry, it’s obviously beneficial not to smoke.

"In my job, you need to be able to participate in the classes that you’re teaching.

“I think the move to smoke free campuses will work. It’s been implemented successfully in hospitals, and I think when people are visiting the college they’ll appreciate not having to make their way into the buildings through other people’s smoke.

“Obviously smokers at the college will need to leave the campus grounds for a cigarette, so it might encourage others to quit.” Elaine Young, Assistant Director of Public Health at NHS Ayrshire & Arran, said: “Ayrshire College is demonstrating real leadership in moving forward with smoke free grounds.

“This sends out a strong health promoting message, which along with other tobacco control work, including students and staff having access to smoking cessation services on campus, will lead to a reduction in tobacco related illnesses within the population of Ayrshire and Arran.” The new smoke free campaign was designed by Creative Arts student Suzanne Penman, 28 from Ayrshire.

Suzanne said: “I have really enjoyed working with the marketing team at Ayrshire College over the summer.

"It has been a great opportunity to get relevant work experience in graphic design.

"I am pleased everyone liked my design and I hope that it will be effective in promoting that we are now a smoke free college.” All campus entrances will display the Smoke Free sign that Suzanne has designed, and the smoking shelters previously used by smokers at the college have been dismantled.

Ayr Craigie Bowling Club and Kilwinning Sports Club have each taken a smoking shelter to be used as viewing areas for spectators.

There are still some redundant shelters available, free of charge.

So, if you can provide a loving home to a smoking shelter, you can get in touch with Ray Walkinshaw, Head of Estates at Ayrshire College, at ray.walkinshaw@ayrshire.ac.uk to register your interest.