A two-year education programme has reached thousands of young people and families in Reading with a message about tackling air pollution.
The Clean Air Living Matters: Exploring Reading (CALM:ER) initiative engaged around 9,000 pupils across 28 schools between January 2024 and July 2025. The council-led, government-funded project was delivered in partnership with the University of Reading, engineering consultants Stantec and social enterprise Design Nature.
Over 18 months, the team ran 53 sessions ranging from interactive assemblies and workshops in schools to full-day activities at the University of Reading.
Pupils learned about common sources of pollution such as traffic and wood burning, explored the health impacts of poor air quality and discussed practical solutions to reduce exposure.
Participating schools were given indoor and outdoor air quality monitors. Students carried out real-time measurements, analysed results and discussed their findings in follow-up workshops.
84 secondary school pupils also took part in experiments and campus monitoring exercises at the university.
Engagement extended beyond the classroom. The team held more than 50 “school gate” sessions, speaking with nearly 900 parents, carers, and community members.
The project also featured at events including the Reading Cycle Festival and the University’s Community Festival. In total, between 26,000 and 33,000 people are estimated to have engaged with the programme.
Feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive. Around 70% intend to continue using their monitors, with teachers reporting pupils are more aware of their environment and proactive in responding – such as opening windows when pollution levels rise.
The project leaves behind teaching resources and equipment to support ongoing learning, with organisers hopeful that the programme will inspire long-term behaviour change around air quality in Reading.
Cllr John Ennis, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said: ‘Improving air quality in Reading is a high priority for the Council and the CALM programme has been a brilliant way of engaging young people, their families and the wider community on this important subject.
‘The CALM project has delivered fun and engaging sessions to more than 9,000 Reading children who now have much more knowledge and awareness of air quality, the common causes of air pollution and ways of reducing it.’
Emma Rigler, Principal Air Quality Scientist at Stantec, said: ‘Our teams were incredibly encouraged by the high levels of engagement shown by both primary and secondary school students throughout the CALM programme, as well as the far-reaching impact of this behavioural change scheme.
‘Poor air quality in urban areas is a critical issue which local authorities, schools, and even members of the public can all positively influence. Through this important public health and awareness initiative, Reading Borough Council was able to reach more than 30,000 people – a significant portion of the accessible population.’
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