Welcome to the team . . .
Our Stop Smoking Service is made up of professional and qualified staff who will offer support and advice to help you quit for good. Remember you’re three times more likely to stop if you use a combination of stop smoking medication and specialist help from one of our advisors.
Chris
Coming from a spectrum of different roles in various job sectors, including Engineering and Education, I felt at home once I got into Public Health. I was an advisor from 2019 – 2023, and demonstrated a passion to helping others improve their health, wellbeing and all round lifestyle, to my maximum capability. The satisfaction I got from the success stories in this role are what drove me forward.
From 2023 I have progressed to become a practitioner for the service – managing our senior advisors and overseeing our specialist projects. We work together to optimise our outreach, to raise our awareness to as many smokers who want to quit as possible, particularly for the most challenging groups, and provide high quality support utilising all the expertise from our team’s wealth of experience.
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Laura
I have worked in Public Health for 14 years in various roles including: a Stop Smoking Advisor, a Stop Smoking Practitioner and now in my current role as the Principal for Stop Smoking and Tobacco Control. I am also an ex-smoker, and as such I am passionate about all smokers having access to a range of support and products to help them quit smoking and to live happy healthy smoke free lives. I am responsible for strategic direction and overall accountability and responsibility for all Stop Smoking and Tobacco Control services and activities across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.
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Claire
I’m the Practitioner for Tobacco Control within the Stop Smoking Service.
I work alongside the Stop Smoking Team to develop and deliver the Tobacco Control Strategy for Milton Keynes, Bedford Borough, and Central Bedfordshire.
My aims for the Tobacco Control Strategy are to support the current stop smoking service in working towards a smoke free generation in Milton Keynes, Bedford Borough, and Central Bedfordshire.
I have written training packages as well the Guide to Quit Vaping, Quit Vaping Guide for under 18’s and for parents and carers as well as other materials for the Stop Smoking Service.
I have also worked within Drug and Alcohol Services which is where I gained a lot of my knowledge and experience.
The best part of my job is making a difference in people’s lives.
BackStewart
Hello I’m Stewart, I joined the team in 2024 after working for an NHS service in Kent offering stop smoking and lifestyle advice. I have seen the impact of smoking first hand within my own family and am committed to ensuring that we are delivering the best service for all our clients. My background includes research into maintenance strategies to overcoming addiction and working specifically with male clients to understand their lived experience within a quit attempt. I am certain that I can bring these skills to the team here and ensure that all clients have the best possible chance of becoming smoke free.
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Jackie
I have worked for the Stop Smoking Service- for 16 years.
Helping people to make positive changes in their lives. I’m very passionate to help people quit smoking. I was the main lead in smoking in pregnancy, which was an amazing opportunity. At the present, I’m the main lead in Mental Health. I look forward to this exciting new challenge. I run a F2F clinic and a telephone clinic once a week.
I look forward to working and helping people in the community
See you soon.
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Rukia
I have been with the service from 2016 and having stepped up into the role of a Senior Stop Smoking Advisor has really made me appreciate what I do. Helping people stop smoking and celebrating their achievement gives me great pleasure and makes me even more keen to make the public in general healthier.
I also co-ordinate the Workplace project across the three local authorities; we aim to support workplaces in their smoke-free policies through the Healthy Workplace Awards Scheme. I can train the staff to assist their employees who are choosing to quit smoking and live a healthier lifestyle, offer support to those who need it and guide them to our service.
Whenever you are ready to quit, our fantastic team are here to help.
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Mandy
I have been a Senior Stop Smoking Advisor for many years now and have done both face to face clinics and telephone support within the three local authorities. I am now the training coordinator within Stop Smoking Services and deliver regular training sessions to potential Stop Smoking Advisors, keeping everyone up-to-date with any new medications that may come to the market.
I can honestly say I feel very passionate about the work I do, as it is all very close to my heart: building people’s confidence, supporting, and encouraging them to make those big changes in their lives and to go on and live a smoke free healthier, and hopefully longer happier life.
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Jane K
I am a Qualified Dispenser, coming from an 8-year Pharmacy background , this is where I started my Stop Smoking career 20 years ago, working within 6 Milton Keynes Pharmacies,
I then took the next step into Surgery life in Milton Keynes, as a Smoking Cessation Practitioner, running very successful Stop Smoking Clinics.
Fast forward to 2019 , I joined the Public Health Office, Stop Smoking Service I am now a Level 3 Smoking Cessation Practitioner, running one Face to Face Clinic and four Telephone Support Clinics.
As part of my current role, I am Shared Primary Care Lead for Milton Keynes and Pharmacy Care Lead for all Jardines Pharmacies and Milton Keynes University Hospital Community Pharmacy Lead
Over the last few years, I have worked with the Milton Keynes Workplace team, supporting Companies to build successful Healthy workplaces, train members of their staff to be Level 2 Stop Smoking Advisors etc. I am currently working alongside In-House advisors/Health & Wellbeing Coaches to promote the health benefits of quitting smoking to patients by running Pop-up events at the surgeries across Milton Keynes.
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Ravi
I have been with the Stop Smoking Service for nearly 3 years now. I am currently leading on the Children and Young People Project within the Team.
I have a BSc Psychology degree and have worked in Public Health for the past 7 years including NHS Health Checks, Sexual Health and Diabetes.
Working as part of the Stop Smoking Service allows me to help people make positive changes in their lives and being able to do this makes my job very rewarding. Everyone within the Stop Smoking Service shares the same vision and we are all dedicated to helping our clients reach their goals.
We are a supportive, caring and understanding team who will help you every step of the way.
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Edith
I feel very privileged to be part of this amazing team.
My background is print media, research, education, social care and a very brief experience in sexual health.
I took a career break to raise my young children and went back to school there after to complete a master’s degree in public health. I joined the Stop Smoking Service after having worked as part of the Covid-19 response team and the Healthy Weight team operating from Bedford Borough Council, respectively as part of the shared service.
I am passionate about making a difference and being part of this service has offered me a fantastic opportunity and a huge platform.
When you feel ready to take that decision to quit smoking, we are just a call away and we will happily support and encourage you all the way.
To find out more about our service go to www.thestopsmokingservice.co.uk
Thank You!
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Jane M
I joined the Stop Smoking service after working for many years within education and previously health care. I have a passion for supporting people and love my job helping people to quit smoking.
I welcome people with warmness and acceptance. I can offer information and support that will help you make this change. I look forward to meeting you.
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Olena Kovalenko
I have been working in this team since 2018, and for the council since 2010. I love meeting new people daily and helping them to reach their goals of quitting smoking. Never give up giving up. Also get the support that is out there to help with your quit. Make the quit your own not about other people and keep trying.
I am very proud of the experienced & passionate team we have.
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Vera
My experience in providing support with issues such as housing, benefits and health, plus my educational background in BSc (Hons) Health Psychology, has all given me the opportunity to enjoy working with people in a variety of roles.
It was always my long-term goal to work in Public Health and it is my passion to make difference in individuals’ lives through motivation and building confidence for change. I joined the team in 2020 and am confident that the Stop Smoking Service is the perfect fit for me to deliver my services.
I also deliver Primary Care Training – level 1 and level 2 to other stakeholders.
The professionals within our team are very welcoming with great passion to achieve positive outcomes. Being part of the team brings out the best in me and look forward to making huge difference in more lives in the future.
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Leanne Aradi
My previous experience is providing support within adult social care, Highways and Registrations for Central Bedfordshire Council. Working within Adult social care gave me the opportunity of providing support to vulnerable adults which was extremely rewarding.
This then led towards my role within public health, helping individuals make that positive change in their life. I joined the team in 2021 as a Project Support Officer, I’m now a qualified Level 3 Stop Smoking Advisor.
I’m very passionate about my role in helping individuals make a difference in their lives through motivation, confidence building and guidance. Our team is very welcoming, professional and thrive on positive outcomes for all our clients.
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Peggy
As a Public Health officer, I support our cherished service users on their journey to being smokefree . As part of my role I liaise with Pharmacies and GP’s to ensure continuity for my clients in all matters relating to their quit status and general wellbeing.
I am particularly enthusiastic about Public health because it gives me the opportunity to harness my zeal in promoting the health and wellbeing of people through organized efforts and the substantial information provided in and outside of my clinics. I am also appreciative of the excellent team of health professionals whom I work with to support people swerve smoking related diseases.
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Lesley
Hello, I’m Lesley, I am a Public Health Officer, I will help you in your efforts to stop smoking. I will support you in a friendly, non-judgemental, empathetic way, ensuring a tailored approach that’s right for you. Addiction is not an easy habit to kick and you are three times more likely to stop smoking with our help!
We will focus on all the benefits of quitting smoking including Health, Finance and Lifestyle changes – it’s never too late to quit!
Our sessions also look at Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRT), motivation, managing withdrawal and finding a way that works for you.
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Emily Doust
I have been at Central Bedfordshire Council for just over 2 years now, having started in 2022 as a business support officer for the Drugs & Alcohol team which is part of the wider Public health team. I have recently been successful in securing the role as Project support officer for the Stop Smoking team after supporting them on an ad hoc basis over a few months. I love supporting the amazing advisors in helping our community have healthier lifestyles by quitting smoking. I look forward to speaking to you all when you start your stop smoking journey. And just remember – you CAN do it! 
