Greater Manchester is the worst place in the UK for toxic air, linked to 1,200 early deaths each year, and with the highest rates of child asthma hospital admissions. We wouldn’t let our children drink dirty water, so why do we allow them to breathe dirty air? How can we positively imagine a healthy and breathable Manchester?

Collaborating with local scientists, artists, and community groups, Our Manchester, Our Air was an exciting community day exploring how to collectively imagine and create a breathable city.

This event was free, family-friendly and open to all. For the first time, Asthma + Lung UK brought to Manchester the exhibition This is Life + Breath: Stories of Toxic Air by award-winning photographer Chris O’Donovan. This was a unique opportunity to experience 10 striking portraits of those who are most affected by toxic air, featuring two local story-tellers, Dave and Maksim.

It was a day of hands-on activities and discussions at Manchester Art Gallery, exploring how toxic air impacts our health. The community heard from life-long campaigner Maksim engage experts on how to tackle air pollution, and got stuck in hands-on activities to create clean air for all.

The event included:

• Free community lunch
• Interactive discussion featuring clean air experts Dr Binita Kane, Prof. Sheena Cruickshank, Layla Siebert (co-founder of Kidical Mass), Lynda Stefek (Air Quality & Environment Senior Manager – TfGM), and local campaigners Julia and Maksim Kovaliova
• Health advice and air quality scientists – discover what air pollution is, how it affects us, and what we can do to take action!
• Hands-on activities from Ardwick Climate Action, Manchester University, and Steady State Manchester
• Creative arts visualising clean air Manchester with Mum’s for Lungs

Air pollution is a problem that we have the tools to solve – it’s more about how we get there together.

• If you have any questions, get in touch with Esther by emailing: elie@asthmaandlung.org.uk or call 0207 786 5024.