A council scheme to help children think about the air they breathe has been awarded a government grant of more than £100,000.
The funding will be used by Swale, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Canterbury district councils, along with Kent County Council, to develop and build an educational resource with an interactive story book, animations, and digital games to help improve air quality.
The resources will encourage children to learn why air quality is important, as well as teach them what they, and their parents, can do to help improve the air they breathe.
They will be taught things like how much air pollution is created by a stationary vehicle with its engine running, as well as how to let grown-ups know they need to change their behaviour and switch off their engines at the right times.
Cllr Julian Saunders, cabinet member for environment at Swale council, said:
“It's great news that we've been awarded government funding for this project.
“Children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of air pollution and we've been working to address this through things like our Clean Air for Schools campaign where we’ve been working with local primary schools to speak to pupils and encourage No Idling Zones around school gates.
“This funding will help us build on the work we’ve done so far and engage with children to encourage healthier day-to-day behaviour.
“Home schooling has shown us how children can effectively learn using technology, and this scheme will use that with interactive gaming to teach them about how we can improve air quality.”
The funding of £103,770 comes from the Air Quality Grant Scheme run by the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs.
Swale Borough Council
Swale Borough Council
