A year ago, disposable vapes had become hard to miss. They were in shop displays, coat pockets, school …
Schools, youth groups, families and communities
Meet the Nicofiends
A creative ASH Wales campaign helping children and young people spot the pressures that can pull them into smoking, vaping or nicotine.
Use ready to run sessions, quick activities and creative challenges to help young people spot pressure early and make their own choices.
What's Influencing Young People?
Nicotine use doesn’t usually begin with one big decision. It starts with curiosity, stress, boredom, wanting to fit in, a message online, bright packaging, sweet flavours or someone saying, “go on, just try it.”
Quick start guide
For schools
For youth groups
For families
For quick sessions
Where to start?
Whether you are a teacher, youth worker, parent, carer or community partner, there is a simple way to use Nicofiends with young people.
Run a lesson
Use the primary or secondary school packs for a ready to run session with slides, guidance and activity sheets.
View school packsPick an activity
Choose one quick activity for a short session, or download the full youth activity pack if you want everything together.
Download youth packEnter at home
Children and young people can create a Nicofiend character or campaign poster at home and send it in with adult permission.
Enter the competitionBrowse activities
Use the activity bank for quick games, creative challenges and discussion activities that do not feel like a formal lesson.
Browse activities
Quick tip: schools may prefer the lesson packs, youth groups may prefer the activity bank, and families may want to go straight to the competition.
National Competition
Create your own Nicofiend
Young people under 18 across Wales are invited to invent an original Nicofiend: a character showing a pressure, feeling, message or trick linked to smoking, vaping or nicotine.
Draw it, paint it or create it digitally. Younger children can use our Feelings Monster template, and older entrants can add a slogan or feature their Nicofiend in a poster.
Closes Friday 4 December 2026
Prize
Twelve winning Nicofiends will be brought to life as official characters in our 2027 campaign. Each winner will receive a small prize bundle, certificate and voucher.
Why this campaign matters
Nicotine use does not usually begin with one big decision. It can start with curiosity, stress, boredom, wanting to fit in, packaging, social media or someone saying, “go on, just try it.”
Nicofiends gives schools, youth groups and families a creative way to help young people spot pressure, question influence and feel more confident making their own choices.
Nicofiend
[ nik-oh-feend ] | noun
a character that shows the pressures, tricks or feelings that can pull young people into smoking, vaping or nicotine use.
Nicofiends helps young people explore:
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How pressure can build around smoking, vaping and nicotine products
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How marketing can sell a feeling rather than the full picture
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How social media can make something feel more common than it is
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How nicotine can become hard to stop
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How to pause, question and respond
For schools
Ready to use in class
Schools can take part by running a Nicofiends session, downloading the resources and inviting pupils to create their own campaign characters.
Primary school pack
Key Stage 2 pupils explore pressure, feelings and choices through a creative Nicofiends activity.
Secondary school pack
Year 7 to 9 pupils explore influence, marketing, nicotine products and social pressure.
Quick Activities
All of the quick activities on this page can be used in youth groups, community settings or informal sessions with young people. The activities are flexible, easy to run and designed to help young people explore pressure, influence, confidence and choice without it feeling like a classroom lesson.
21 activities
Risk Ladder
Compare different types of risk linked to smoking, vaping, nicotine and other products.
View activityPressure Web
Map connected pressures around smoking, vaping and nicotine and find ways to weaken them.
View activityPass It On
Create a campaign poster helping younger pupils recognise pressure and make their own choices.
View activityReason Rumble
Practise realistic responses, reasons and ways out when someone feels under pressure.
View activityChoice Shield
Create a simple plan for what to notice, say, do and who to ask for help.
View activityMy Brave Phrase
Practise simple words children can use to say no, make a different choice or ask for help.
View activityLittle Feelings Monster
Create a character that shows a feeling and think about who can help when feelings get big.
View activityCopy or Choose?
A movement game exploring the difference between copying someone and making your own choice.
View activityQuick Gain
A passing game where teams decide whether a quicker advantage is worth the extra risk.
View activityRescue Run
An active team game about noticing when someone needs support and helping them rejoin the group.
View activityPressure Shot
A sports activity exploring how other people’s opinions can affect confidence and choices.
View activityHold the Line
A quick sports game about pausing before automatically following what other people do.
View activityChoice Compass
Build a simple plan to notice pressure, respond, leave the moment and find support.
View activityCup Choice
A quick guessing game exploring how group advice can influence someone’s first choice.
View activityWhat’s Missing?
Look closely at advertising and spot the information, consequences or context that has been left out.
View activityCreate Your Nicofiend
Create a character showing a pressure, feeling or message linked to smoking, vaping or nicotine.
View activityHype Lab
Turn an ordinary object into a must have product and spot the tricks used to make it sound appealing.
View activityQuick Gain Tower
A team building challenge about tempting offers, hidden catches and quick decisions.
View activityVIP Room
A guessing game exploring hidden rules, fitting in and what starts to feel accepted by a group.
View activityMystery Auction
A bidding game about hype, missing information and making choices before knowing the full story.
View activityPressure Postcards
Spot the pressure trick in each message and decide what someone could say, think or do.
View activity
No activities match those choices. Try another search or clear the filters.
Full youth group pack
Download full pack
Download the full pack
Get all the Nicofiends youth group activities and printables in one pack.
Need help?
Questions about Nicofiends, resources or competition entries? Email communications@ashwales.org.uk
