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 鈥楢untie Duck鈥, a children鈥檚 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: 鈥淏eing able to breathe clean air shouldn鈥檛 be seen as a privilege, it鈥檚 a right, and one that everyone in the West Midlands deserves.
鈥淭he 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.
鈥淥ur education programme is being piloted in 10 schools across the region. That鈥檚 hundreds of children who can start living a healthier life right now.
鈥淏ut we aren鈥檛 stopping there. We鈥檝e recently installed a cross-regional monitoring network so that we can track air quality in real time.
鈥淯sing this data, and taking action, we can help everyone in the West Midlands live longer, healthier lives.鈥
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鈥檚 pollution levels.
Mr Parker鈥檚 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: 鈥淲e were extremely honoured to have the Mayor at our school to celebrate Clean Air Day.
鈥淭his was a wonderful opportunity to educate our children about the importance of environmental responsibility.
鈥淲e were particularly excited for the Mayor to read Auntie Duck, which has certainly captivated and inspired our young learners.鈥
Councillor Jackie Taylor, Sandwell Council鈥檚 cabinet member for adult services, health and wellbeing, said: 鈥淎untie Duck is a great and innovative way to explain the importance of air pollution to Sandwell鈥檚 children and through them their parents and guardians as well.
“I hope this initiative helps to highlight this important issue.鈥
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.