We Care for Our Air Redbridge

Come along on Friday 19th or Monday 22nd April to the We Care for Our Air Update Event and find out what progress has been made so far!

Gain insight into the ongoing efforts taking place to record and improve air quality in Redbridge. Our collaboration with residents and schools has already made remarkable progress and there is still more to come.

We will be discussing the results gathered by almost 100 resident volunteers’ as we share pollution data collected during the past 8 months. Find out where pollution levels are highest helping you to make informed choices about outdoor activity and travel. Learn about the six new Breathe London Nodes that will link Redbridge to a larger data network, providing a clearer picture of air quality across the entire borough.

Looking to play a part in shaping the future? Consider using our data to propose or enact your own community-based initiatives promoting awareness of air quality. Alternatively, learn about a simple way you can get involved by monitoring particulate pollution along your commute.

Mark your calendars for one of the following sessions:

• Redbridge Central Library on April 19th, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
• Wanstead Library on April 19th, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
• Online session on April 22nd, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Beyond the data, this workshop is an opportunity to join a community of residents passionate about a healthier Redbridge. Book your free ticket on Eventbrite and become part of the collective effort to combat local air pollution.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-care-for-our-air-redbridge-project-update-tickets-879480228037?aff=oddtdtcreator

Gently paced, sociable and family-friendly bike rides are running in Redbridge this April - so do come along !

• Sunday 14th April - starting from Fairlop Waters @11am, Valentine's Mansion @11.20am and Wanstead Park @11.30am and cycling onto the Olympic Park. https://lcc.org.uk/events/fairlop-waters-to-valentines-wanstead-and-olympic-parks.
• Sunday 27th April - starting in Redbridge and cycling to Hyde Park - more information TBC.

Both rides are organised and led by the fantastic Redbridge Cycling Campaign, who work on behalf of all residents to campaign for safer cycling conditions and better active travel infrastructure.

All rides are marshalled throughout and the gentle pace ensures all ages and abilities can take part without feeling stressed! They aim to make the rides great fun and are a brilliant way to get back on the bike for the summer to come!

For more information go to Rides – Redbridge Cycling Campaign.

Residents, schools, doctors’ surgeries and libraries across Redbridge have been monitoring air quality outside of their homes, places of work and learning environments over the past six months. Using small tubes that can be easily erected outside, their collective effort is helping to build-up a picture of current nitrogen dioxide levels, one of the major types of pollution, across the borough. These are now being mapped on the interactive community map.

Next month we will be holding a workshop with the community to share the results so far and begin a campaign that will enable people to monitor their personal exposure to particulates as they move around their neighbourhoods.

We would love for people to join these efforts and sign-up to monitoring air quality over the coming months. The more people that help, the better picture we’ll have of where air pollution is highest, so we can take informed action and help protect health.

To find out more and sign up to help, email air@mappingforchange.org.uk or wecareforourair@pwlcprojects.com or call 020 7241 6625.

Prize draw winners - Sebastian and his son Adam

First place went to Sebastian and his son Adam who are delighted with their fantastic new bike and are looking forward to cycling together. Adam said he loves his new bike and that more people should cycle to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide. We need to look after our planet!

Second and third prizes went to James O'Donnell and Brian from Woodford, who both won a children's scooter and the remaining Love 2 Shop vouchers went to six winners including Umesh P and Emma B!!

A big thank you to everyone who took part and helped us evaluate air quality awareness across Redbridge.

If you'd like to be more involved in the project such as helping with our Community Air Quality monitoring initiative please do get in touch by emailing wecareforourair@pwlcprojects.com.

If you'd like to increase your cycle confidence or learn to ride a bike book a FREE cycle Training session for adults, children, families or groups by clicking HERE.

Where should we install new air quality monitors across Redbridge?

The 'We Care for Our Air’ project is investing in six Breathe London Nodes, two for each of the project focus areas of Loxford, Newbury and Goodmayes.

These monitors will provide us with additional air quality data to help us understand how clean the air is across Redbridge, joining other monitors across London as part of the Breathe London Network - Breathe London.

Please take 2 minutes to vote for where to place the nodes, by clicking on this form link https://forms.gle/t91MKbfo3yVvz2Yf7

We need your help, as you know your neighbourhood best. Where would you like us to test the air?

Please place your vote by Sunday 28^th Jan.

You can also check out the Interactive Community map for more information about the possible locations Project: We Care for Our Air | We Care for Our Air - Community Maps.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support with this project. We couldn’t do it without you 😊

Thank you to the eight residents who have attended campaign focus groups during November and December, offering their views and feedback about initial messaging ideas. Their help will be invaluable in helping our Marketing team (Whistlejacket) develop effective communications and final campaign resources and materials.

We would also like to speak to more residents in the new year, so if you are interested in taking part, we'd really like to hear from you. Please email jennifer@pwlcprojects.com to sign up or find out more.

We're excited to announce the launch of Redbridge's own Air Quality map, designed and delivered by our brilliant partners Mapping for Change.

Thank you to the 78 residents and organisations who have helped put up diffusion tubes each month to test for levels of nitrogen dioxide (a key urban pollutant).

The first two month's worth of Air Quality data is now available to view on the Redbridge Air Quality Map. Please do take a look to see how clean your local area is.

If you would like to be involved in contributing to the map, please email air@mappingforchange.org.uk to order a tube. You can put one up at a place that matters to you, such as your balcony or garden, a park or a bus stop you frequently use.

It's free an easy and the more people that join in, the better informed we'll be!

Click here to watch this short video to see how volunteers set up their monitors at home:

Woodlands Primary Ambassadors with their diffusion tube

Following the hard work of our Pupil Air Quality Ambassadors over the autumn term, all three focus schools (Barley Lane Primary, Newbury Park Primary and Woodlands Primary Schools) held engaging Air Quality days at the end of November.

The pupil ambassadors presented the findings of their air quality investigations to pupils and parents and encouraged everyone to travel actively to school, running fun competitions and activities for children to get involved in.

Thank you to the efforts of all three schools and for Cllr Rahman for attending the event at Woodlands Primary School!

Barley Lane Primary Ambassadors

We Care for Our Air - Guided Bike Rides

Fun, free and family-friendly guided rides. Come along to meet new people, practice your cycle skills and explore your local area. We stop for cakes and drinks too!

WHERE? WHEN?

• Loxford Park Saturday 9^th September (10 - 11.30am)
• Goodmayes Park Saturday 9^th September (11.30 – 1pm)
• Fairlop Waters Saturday 16^th September (9 –10.30am)
• Valentine’s park Saturday 16^th September (10.30- 12pm)

TICKETS To book a ride, go to www.cycleconfident.com/sponsors/london-borough-of-redbridge/

Join our online workshop to learn everything about being a volunteer monitor.

Would you like to know how polluted the air you breathe is, whether it’s in your back garden, at a bus stop or where your kids play? We can help you find out! Monitoring the air quality in the places that matter to you is FREE and EASY and takes just 5 minutes a month.

Contribute to your local interactive community map to build up a detailed picture of air quality where you live. Share ‘pollution hotspots’ and see where monitors will be placed.

The more people that get involved, the better picture we’ll create. Please do come along!