The Bradford Clean Air Schools Programme (CASP) is a Bradford Council initiative funded by the Bradford Clean Air Zone (CAZ). Reductions in pollution outside schools are already being delivered by the CAZ, especially at those located next to busy main roads.
Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to the public’s health, contributing to cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Poor air quality affects everyone but has a disproportionate impact on the young who suffer lifelong consequences as a result of exposure to high levels of pollution in their early years.
The Clean Air School’s Programme is a district wide environmental and educational programme focused primarily on improving the health and well-being of young people within our district. It addresses their needs and perspectives in relation to exposure to harmful air pollutants by:
The Clean Air School’s Programme - education programme is tailored and designed with activities and interventions that cater for different ages, groups, abilities and interests carried out within a school classroom environment. The activities are stimulating and engaging for children, enabling them to explore their environment whilst learning and taking into consideration measures to take in improving air quality and reduce emissions.
Clean Air Schools - engagement and awareness element of the programme is a behavioural and social change approach involving children, parents and guardians in a campaign outside school gates to highlight the health impacts of stationary vehicle idling.
The Clean Air Schools Programme (CASP) is really making an impact by reducing exposure to air pollution in our Bradford schools.
Take a look at the video playlist showing how several Bradford schools have benefitted from the CASP. The videos highlight how grants have been used and show children getting involved in learn to ride sessions, classroom activities and even air pollution monitoring.
Bradford Council are in the process of distributing over £444,000 of funding from the Clean Air Zone to 48 Bradford schools who have been successful in receiving grants to reduce air pollution around their local area.
The CASP grants are contributing to some great ideas such as walking buses, bikes, scooters and shelters, classroom air filtration systems and green screens using planting to protect play areas.
Read about the progress and updates from Clean Air schools Grant programme.
The Clean Air Schools Programme includes dedicated support to schools in the district to help them educate children, staff and parents about the dangers of air pollution to our health.
We have a school engagement officer in place to work with schools in person in classroom environments, assemblies or action days.
Take a look at our downloads and resources page, it has been put together to provide material to increase knowledge surrounding air quality and reducing emissions.
Improving air quality around schools is a must for children, parents and staff especially at the beginning and end of the school day when vehicles may be found idling.
Bradford Council have employed 5 neighbourhood wardens, one in each locality, to focus on parked vehicles that are outside schools with their engine running.
As well as making observations outside schools to check how many stationary vehicles are leaving their engine running the neighbourhood wardens will work with the schools to increasing engagement activity and educating drivers who are idling next to school sites.
You can download our anti idling poster (PDF) if you want to start an awareness campaign outside your school or organisation.
