The first ever Breathe London Awards took place in London on Tuesday (16th June), to celebrate the efforts of community groups, schools, hospitals, local authorities and organisations working to improve air quality across the capital.
The awards recognise innovation, collaboration and commitment to creating healthier environments, with organisers emphasising that the initiative is not just about recognition but about amplifying impact and inspiring others to strengthen the movement for cleaner air.
‘What’s the Matter’ won The Storytelling Award
The awards were hosted by Deputy Mayor for the Environment, Mete Coban, in partnership with VodafoneThree, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Clean Air Fund.
Among the winners, the Community Collaboration Award went to Knitting the Air, a project that transforms air pollution data into a 13-metre knitted textile. More than 130 local residents aged 8 to 102 contributed over 5,000 hours to the work, which has reached more than 1,000 people through exhibitions and events, sparking new conversations about pollution and health in Tower Hamlets by combining art, science and participation.
The Health & Wellbeing Award was presented to Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts for embedding air quality monitoring into healthcare. Their partnership enabled targeted action such as reducing ambulance idling, demonstrated strong links between indoor and outdoor pollution, and achieved a 16 per cent reduction in particulate matter levels at a key hospital site.
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets received the Local Authority Leadership Award for its low-cost, high-impact model tackling engine idling. The council installed more than 400 anti-idling signs, carried out 228 patrols, engaged over 800 drivers and delivered school workshops, resulting in a 19 to 27 per cent reduction in NO₂ levels at school hotspots.
William Byrd Primary School won the Schools Impact Award for empowering pupils to act on air quality using real-world data. Active travel increased from around 40% to over 60%, more than 80% of pupils can now explain air pollution and its impacts, and children are leading initiatives including tree planting and Walk to School campaigns.
The Storytelling Award went to What’s the Matter CIC (pictured), an initiative connecting data with lived experience through art, health and community engagement. Using festivals, installations and workshops, the project brings together NHS partners, researchers and local communities to develop tools that help individuals reduce personal exposure, highlighting the power of storytelling in bridging the gap between data and action.
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