Borders Public Health Team Win Children’s Health Award for Nicotine Prevention Work

We are pleased to share that members of our Public Health Team have been recognised at the Scottish Children's Health Awards for their innovative work helping children and young people understand the risks of nicotine addiction and make informed choices about their health.

The Public Health Team won the Health Care Rights Award at the Scottish Children’s Health Awards for their outstanding work on a Nicotine Prevention toolkit.

Lizzie MacLeish (Health Improvement Specialist at NHS Borders), Sophie Gillians (Assistant Head of Health Improvement at NHS Borders) and Shona Easingwood (Young Person’s Engagement Lead at Scottish Borders Council) were nominated for their commitment to ensuring that the voices of children and young people are heard, valued and reflected in the design and delivery of the Nicotine Prevention toolkit work.

The team have worked closely with children and young people as well as partners across education, health, public services and the third sector to develop innovative, rights-based approaches to nicotine prevention.

Their work focuses on prevention and early intervention, helping children and young people become healthy, resilient, informed and empowered to make positive choices throughout their lives. It has been so impactful that this work has been shared by ASH Scotland as an example of best practice.

Health Improvement Specialist at NHS Borders, Lizzie MacLeish, said: "We're incredibly honoured to receive this award. It reflects the efforts of colleagues, partners and, most importantly, the young people who have helped shape this work.

“Our nicotine prevention programme has succeeded because it was developed with young people, not for them. By listening to their experiences, we've been able to challenge misinformation and create more meaningful conversations about nicotine addiction.

“Seeing local young people share their views directly with Scottish Government colleagues was a powerful reminder of the impact of giving young people a voice. This award highlights what can be achieved when we put young people's experiences at the heart of decision-making."

Director of Public Health at NHS Borders, Dr Sohail Bhatti, added: “This recognition reflects the innovative and collaborative approach taken to nicotine prevention across the Borders. By working alongside young people, schools and community partners, we've created a programme that is relevant, credible and responsive to local needs.

“The initiative has helped raise awareness of nicotine addiction while empowering young people to become advocates for positive change in their schools and communities. That commitment to prevention, partnership and participation has been central to its success."