Image shows: Wycliffe CE Primary children on launch day with IVE facilitator Kat Fletcher and inventor Michael Omotosho.
Wycliffe CE Primary pupils are taking part in an Applied Creativity Lab workshop to help children and young people find new ways to reduce air pollution. The process starts with IVE delivering the workshops and introducing the challenge of reducing air pollution. Over a nine week period the children are supported to create and develop their ideas ready to present at an Industry Panel pitch at their school. The pitch events are scored and the team with the most original, applicable and affordable idea will go forward to a grand final pitch event in Bradford City Centre on Clean Air Day in June 2023.
Bradford Council and Born in Bradford are funding Leeds based charity IVE to deliver Applied Creativity Labs in 11 primary schools in Bradford to help children develop creative problem-solving skills to find new, innovative ways to reduce air pollution during Autumn 2022 and Spring 2023. 165 children Year 5 & 6 children (10/11 yr olds) are all busy working on developing new ideas having had creative thinking and problem-solving training from IVE and having heard from a variety of experts and professionals with a vested interested in reducing air pollution.
Chris Holdsworth, Deputy Head teacher at Wycliffe CE, said,
“It is great for the children of Wycliffe CE school to be involved in this project and for them to develop their knowledge and ideas to improve air pollution. Our school is close to a main road, where air pollution has negative health effects on our children as they walk to school. Anything we can do to help children and parents understand and learn how to reduce air pollution is really worthwhile.”
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said,
“It is fabulous to see so many children interested in developing their ideas to reduce air pollution, particularly here in Bradford where air pollution levels are above the legal limits. The Bradford Clean Air Zone is only one part of our journey, the Applied Creativity Labs are integral to learning and understanding why we must improve air quality in order to improve the health of everyone in the district. I am looking forward to hearing the pitches from the finalists at our event on Clean Air Day 2023”
