Children from Shipley CE Primary have taken part in an Applied Creativity Lab workshop to find new ways to reduce air pollution. During a nine-week period the children created and developed their ideas ready to present to an Industry Panel at their school. During this ‘Dragon’s Den’ style event, several groups of children introduced their unique ideas, answered questions and battled it out for points. The winning group is now ready for the grand final pitch event on Clean Air Day in June 2023.
Bradford Council and Born in Bradford have funded 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 and 6 children (10/11 year 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.
Gavin Hamilton, Headteacher at Shipley CE Primary School, said: “The whole project has been amazing. The children have put forward some fabulous and thoughtful ideas for solving the issues of air pollution locally. The whole panel and I were so proud of how they worked through the nine weeks and how professional, authoritative and enthusiastic their final presentations were. Due to our school’s location, we know only too well the negative health issues connected to air pollution. We are all looking forward to the final!”
Professor Rosie McEachan, Director of Born in Bradford said: “It is fabulous to see so many children interested in developing their ideas to reduce air pollution, particularly here in Bradford where our research has shown the high levels of pollution in Bradford are harming our health. Pollution and climate change is a real worry for young people and we are delighted that we are able to support them sharing their concerns, hopes and solutions for the future through these creativity labs. I am looking forward to hearing the pitches from the finalists at our event on Clean Air Day in June 2023 and hope that we can use the children’s idea to push forward real improvements in the city”
