Children to breathe easier as West Midlands Mayor announces plans to help schools help tackle pollution

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker announced a new education programme to help pupils combat air pollution in a visit to Corngreaves Academy in Sandwell on June 19.

The Mayor spoke to the class of seven- to nine-year-olds about air pollution, how it affects them and how they can protect themselves ahead of launching the programme.

Schools will also be supplied with copies of ‘Auntie Duck’, a children’s book about air quality, which he read to the Cradley Heath pupils. It is written by The Dog, Duck and Cat Charitable Trust with advice from Sandwell Council's air quality experts.

The Mayor said: “Being able to breathe clean air shouldn’t be seen as a privilege, it’s a right, and one that everyone in the West Midlands deserves.

“The air we breathe matters to our health. And we can all make choices right now to improve our air quality. 

"The sooner we can make those choices, the better our health which is why it was so important to speak to these children today.

“Our education programme is being piloted in 10 schools across the region. That’s hundreds of children who can start living a healthier life right now.

“But we aren’t stopping there. We’ve recently installed a cross-regional monitoring network so that we can track air quality in real time.

“Using this data, and taking action, we can help everyone in the West Midlands live longer, healthier lives.”

This network is the largest in the UK outside of London, with air quality sensors installed around homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and sports centres.

Residents can currently view the data online at cleanair.wmca.org.uk, while plans are in place for direct, free mobile alerts later this year to warn residents about their neighbourhood’s pollution levels.

Mr Parker’s new programme has already been piloted by the West Midlands Combined Authority at 10 schools across the region, and includes specially written lessons and assembly plans, hands-on classroom activities and workshops.

Jo Robinson, head of school at Corngreaves Academy, said: “We were extremely honoured to have the Mayor at our school to celebrate Clean Air Day.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to educate our children about the importance of environmental responsibility.

“We were particularly excited for the Mayor to read Auntie Duck, which has certainly captivated and inspired our young learners.”

Councillor Jackie Taylor, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for adult services, health and wellbeing, said: “Auntie Duck is a great and innovative way to explain the importance of air pollution to Sandwell’s children and through them their parents and guardians as well. 

"I hope this initiative helps to highlight this important issue.”

The WMCA say that there are more than 2,300 premature deaths every year in the region due to long-term health conditions such as asthma, coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer that are made worse by air pollution.