Young people to take lead on air quality campaign

Local young people are invited to take a lead role designing a new air quality campaign.

During COVID lockdown, millions of people changed their routines to include things like walking, cycling, and working from home.

As a result, air pollution decreased. Cleaner air has a positive impact on our health.

To harness these positive changes young people are being called upon to help design and implement a new air quality campaign.

Those involved will receive training on how to campaign effectively and learn about air quality from local Environmental Protection Officers.

This project offers young people the opportunity to develop skills in campaigning, further their knowledge in air quality and the environment, gain experience in project management, team-working, and community-based change.

Young people have the ideas, creativity and vision needed to create a relevant and inspiring campaign.

Children are also more vulnerable to the affects of pollution which is another key reason they are the foundation for the campaign.

If you are aged 16 to 18 you are invited to apply.

Spaces are limited so please apply by emailing Vanessa Catterall at [email protected], by 25 October.

Councillor Ian Lindley, Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Young People said:

“Young people have lived experience of these unprecedented times.

“They are the next generation, so it is their values, interests and needs that need to be put forward to determine what the future of our borough looks like.

“Having them at the centre of this campaign is a great opportunity for our borough.”

The call for young people to take a stand comes in tandem with Clean Air Day on Thursday, 8 October.

The annual campaign is being backed by Council’s, schools, business and individuals across the nation to improve public understanding of air pollution, build awareness of how air pollution affects our health, and explain the easy actions we can all do to tackle air pollution; helping to protect the environment and our health.

If you want to learn more about your impact on air pollution and the part you can play in tackling it, head to the Clean Air Hub website: www.cleanairhub.org.uk.

Follow the campaign with the hashtag #CleanAirDay.