Keep Dundee vape free for children

Children are the future of Scotland and they should be healthy.
Hamza, Member of Children’s Parliament, age 13

In Dundee, three Members of Children’s Parliament have been taking action to help spread the word on the dangers of children vaping.

Ella, Hamza and Kati planned and led a two-day event to share their ideas and hear what other people think about vaping.

As part of Child Human Rights Defenders project, the trio have been exploring the vaping issue for two years.

You can read about their ideas in the Vaping summary at the link:

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Image courtesy Kim Cessford, DC Thomson

Talking to the public

The Members of Children’s Parliament organised a stall in Dundee City Square where they spoke to members of the public. They asked for their ideas on different questions:

Should vape free zones be bigger in Dundee?
Should vapes be hidden in shops in Dundee?
Is children’s health affected by vaping?
Is children’s safety affected by vaping?

Lots of different people stopped to share their thoughts and support the children’s ideas, including young people, older adults and even a postman!

Members of Children's Parliament consulting public in Dundee

Ella, Kati and Hamza were keen that their message spread to as many people in Dundee as possible and had billboards with their message in four places across the city.

Members of Children's Parliament with one of their bill boards in Dundee.

Sharing ideas with Dundee decision-makers

The next day, Ella, Kati and Hamza held an event at Dundee Contemporary Arts.

They spoke with different adults including local councillors, health workers, school teachers and charities.

Members of Children’s Parliament explained that some children think vaping is “cool” or “healthy”, and don’t understand the dangers of vaping.

Ella, Hamza and Kati shared important ideas to help keep children safe from vaping:

More places where vaping is not allowed (like parks and schools)
Making vapes less colourful and changing the flavours, so they are not sweet and fruity
Helping children learn about the dangers of vaping in ways that make sense to them

Ella presents at the Children's Parliament vaping event in Dundee

Keep Dundee vape free for children.
Members of Children’s Parliament, Dundee

The children’s message is clear and the event demonstrated how powerful children’s views are when working to make a difference. Ella, Hamza and Kati hope their work will help make Dundee a healthier and safer place for all children. They are excited to hear how the adults build on their ideas to make meaningful and positive change for all.

To find out more about the Child Human Rights Defenders project, visit their page.

A huge thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund Young Start programme for making this child-led event possible.

Date: 21st May 2026