Care for our Air

The project working to clean up Cheltenham’s air through the power of education.

The Care for our Air project, a free educational initiative led by Cheltenham Borough Council, strives to both raise awareness about the importance of air quality and support school communities to take positive action. To achieve this, schools can take part in free STEM workshops, whole-school assemblies, and national campaigns, all centred on air quality and pollution.

In addition to this, the project offers schools the opportunity to monitor air quality at their setting, using our Zephyr monitors, Monty and Molly. From these measurements, schools can receive support from the air quality education officer to improve the levels of pollutants at the school. This may involve creating and implementing a school travel plan, leading awareness campaigns, promoting active travel.

Poor air quality disproportionately affects children due to their smaller lung size, faster breathing rate and the fact they are shorter and therefore closer to pollutant sources like exhaust pipes. A report from Unicef in 2008 – called The Toxic School Run – found that children are exposed to higher doses during the school run than any other time throughout their day. Subsequently, reducing pollution at school settings, and therefore children’s exposure, is imperative.

For further details or to get started, please contact Hannah Leatherland, our air quality education officer.