YOUNGSTERS at a Grappenhall primary school have been learning about how to improve their air they breathe.

Year five pupils at St Wilfrid’s CE Primary School in the village have been involved in an exciting project to teach children and young people about how air quality impacts their physical and mental health.

And they have even made their own air filter which is being used in their classroom.

Engineering a Sustainable Life on Earth (EASLOE) is a careers education project that has been developed by the Warrington-based careers education charity 4wardFutures.

EASLOE taps into the passions and values that many young people have in addressing the climate and ecological challenges that humanity faces. To introduce them to the wide ranging and exciting work that engineers are doing to address these huge challenges, and the engineering careers and progression pathways that will allow them to be part of the solution through working on addressing these challenges themselves through their future careers.

The EASLOE project is delivered through taking part in interactive live workshops and webinars with engineering professionals, graduates, apprentices and academics. EASLOE gives young people the opportunity to find out about the work engineers are doing, their career journeys and the technology they are using or developing to address these environmental challenges.

Mark Waters, from 4wardFutures worked with a group of year five learners to explore some of the challenges nature and biodiversity in the school grounds and wider environment are facing.

As part of the project at St Wilfrid’s, Sarah Naylor, representing Arcadis, a global design and engineering consultancy, has been involved in increasing awareness about air quality.

Through engaging presentations, Sarah has educated the children on the importance of air quality, including what air quality is, the various sources of air pollution and showed how we each can play a part in improving the air that we breathe. Sarah has also been undertaking air quality monitoring with the students around the school grounds using diffusion tubes to assess nitrogen dioxide concentrations at different locations.

A short brief for head teachers on the importance of air quality in schools and self-build air cleaners developed in the US, was also sent out to Warrington schools as part of Warrington Borough Council's Public Health’s information for Clean Air Day in June.

A spokesperson for the school said: "The project has been very lucky to gain significant support from local companies and academic institutions based in Warrington. Funds have been donated by Novelis, a multi-national company based in Latchford for the major parts of the self-build air cleaners.

"The children’s work is going to be displayed at Arcadis and it is also being exhibited online."