Visit our interactive community map to share ‘pollution hotspots’ and see where monitors have been placed.
Project Overview
The London Borough of Redbridge has launched a new project to improve the air quality in the borough and raise awareness about the issue of air pollution. Key dates and project progress will be available on the Redbridge Council website.
Air pollution is harmful to our health, but it is especially so for younger children and older people. Every year, 9,400 people die early in London because of poor air quality – with people living in poorer areas being even more at risk.
‘We Care for Our Air‘ is a project which aims to monitor and increase awareness of local air quality. It is focused on three areas within the borough, Loxford, Newbury Park and Goodmayes. These areas have been identified as having some of the highest rates of illness associated with air pollution.
We Care for Our Air will run from March 2023 to March 2025 with ongoing evaluation to assess changes in local air quality, air quality awareness, residents’ behaviour, and health outcomes.
Community Action
With no prior experience, local residents have been monitoring nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) in the spaces near to their homes and around their neighbourhood. We provided all the equipment and training required and will analyse and share the results every month. There will be further opportunities to get involved throughout the project, including cycle training and raising awareness.
Watch this short video to see how our volunteers set up their monitors at home:
In parallel, we will be working with local primary schools to engage the pupils in awareness raising workshops and air pollution monitoring, as well as providing cycle training to encourage active travel.
The Results
The gathered data will inform the development of targeted strategies and campaigns that will enable residents, particularly vulnerable groups such as school-aged children, to make behaviour changes that reduce their exposure to harmful air pollution.
We will produce an interactive community map to visualise the project data. The map will identify areas with higher levels of air pollution, enabling residents and visitors to make informed choices about outdoor activities and travel routes to minimise their exposure to harmful pollution.
Partners
This is a London Borough of Redbridge project funded by DEFRA. Mapping for Change is a key delivery partner alongside PWLC Projects and Whistlejacket London.
Related Projects
WeGovNow
WeGovNow is a three year research and innovation project focusing on civic participation in local government. It aims to change the relationship between citizens and local governments, transforming the citizen’s role from customer into partner. This is to be achieved with the development of a single community engagement platform, where citizens can interact with their governments and participate in local decision-making.
Design for Wellbeing
Design for Wellbeing is a multidisciplinary research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The project aims to investigate ‘community severance’; the concept that major transport infrastructure, such as busy roads, can negatively influence elderly people’s physical and psychological wellbeing, by segregating their community and restricting their mobility.
Putting Ourselves on the Map
Mapping for Change in collaboration with the Humanities Education Centre (HEC) and local specialist on learning and ‘place’ Maggie Hewitt, worked with three schools in Tower Hamlets (Columbia School Community Map, Arnhem Wharf School Community Map and John Scurr School Community Map) to pilot a brand new process in which Year 4 pupils develop personalised maps of their local area with their own likes, memories and views on change.