How you can help save the NHS by taking part in their consultation
The government and the NHS are working together to save the NHS. They have launched a consultation to find out what people think about the NHS and what needs to change. Read on to find out how you can take part and why it’s so important for the future of the NHS.
Maksim fights for his right to breathe clean air
Maksim has asthma and was only nine years old when he first started campaigning for every child’s right to breathe clean air. He first got involved when his mum Julia helped to launch a successful battle to prevent the local council from building a car park next to his primary school in Manchester City Centre. Maksim, now 14, has become one of Asthma + Lung UK’s most dedicated campaigners for clean air since then. Here he tells us about his journey to joining the fight for clean air.
Lung conditions undiagnosed in thousands: our plea to the new government
Our research reveals that many people with lung conditions are being diagnosed too late, misdiagnosed, or are not getting the right treatment, leading them to become seriously ill and in need of hospital care. We’re issuing a plea to our new government to tackle this urgently.
Fighting for clean air at the elections
Last week, communities across England voted for their new Metro Mayors. Here in the Clean Air team at Asthma + Lung UK, we’ve been busy making sure that mayoral candidates understood the need to protect everyone’s lungs from toxic air. Read on to hear what we’ve been doing across the UK to keep the pressure on for clean air in our communities.
Clean air zones: making sure no one is left behind
Road traffic is one of the leading sources of air pollution in the UK’s towns and cities, and urgent action is needed to clean up the way we travel. However, some communities are disproportionately affected by toxic air and are being excluded from policies designed to tack air pollution. Chloe from our policy team talks us through our new work with IPPR and Transport for All showing how clean air zone policies can be implemented to ensure no one is left behind.
Calling on Mayoral Candidates to stand up for clean air
On 2 May, communities across England will head to the ballot box to vote for their new Metro Mayor. Here in the clean air team at Asthma + Lung UK, we’re campaigning for mayoral candidates to protect everyone’s lungs from toxic air pollution.
Together we’re charting a course to cleaner air in Birmingham
This October, we hosted our first Birmingham Clean Air Community Conference. In partnership with the Clean Air Justice Network, the event brought together inspiring people from all over the city to fight for clean air. Maddy from the Clean Air Team tells us all about this fantastic day.
Disposable vapes: what needs to be done to protect our lung health
E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, can be a useful tool to help quit smoking, but they don’t come without risks. Laura from our policy team discusses the challenges of disposable vapes and what the government needs to do about them.
Nancy goes to Downing Street
Ten-year-old Nancy, who has asthma, was delighted to go to No 10 to help hand in our petition calling for the Government to set up a Cleaner Travel Access Fund. Here she tells us what it was like going to Downing Street and why she wanted to support our campaign for cleaner air.
Saving Your Breath: Help us fix respiratory care in the UK
Respiratory care in the UK is in crisis. People with lung conditions are suffering – and even dying - needlessly. That’s why we’ve launched a new campaign to ensure people living with lung conditions get the care and treatment they desperately need. Our CEO, Sarah Woolnough, explains why we need to do more to get the government’s attention, and how you can help.
Improve Glasgow’s buses to tackle toxic air
It may be easy to overlook the power of the humble bus but they’re a vital tool for cleaner air in our cities. There are major issues with Glasgow’s transport system that we urgently need to fix to tackle toxic air in the city. Maddy from the Clean Air team explains why the fight for better buses in Glasgow is a fight for clean air too – and how you can get involved.
Investing in breath: the true cost of lung conditions to the UK economy
Someone dies from a lung condition every five minutes in the UK. And millions more live with debilitating symptoms. Our new report, written with PwC, reveals the huge financial cost of lung conditions to the UK economy. It shows how increased investment in lung health research could lead to huge savings and increased productivity, and protect the future of the NHS.
ULEZ: Protecting future generations from toxic air
Today, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expands to cover the whole of Greater London, protecting millions of Londoners from toxic air. This milestone follows the tireless work of thousands of campaigners calling for cleaner air. Olivia, in our clean air team explains the impact the expansion will have on our children who are currently breathing in dangerous levels of air pollution. Plus how we’re helping to raise awareness of air quality around London schools.
Bringing communities together: Asthma and Lung UK’s first Clean Air Campaigner Conference
On Saturday 15 July we hosted our first ever Clean Air Campaigner Conference. We brought together campaigners from Manchester, Glasgow, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire and Liverpool, who care about tackling toxic air pollution in their communities. Sophie from our clean air team shares some of the day’s highlights.
Diagnosing the problem: Lauren’s story
Our latest research shows that people with lung conditions aren’t being diagnosed quickly enough. Lauren, an IT trainer from Nottingham, was diagnosed with asthma in 2010. Here she tells us how difficult it was to get her diagnosis. And we lay out our recommendations to improve diagnosis for lung conditions in the UK.
The next generation of clean air changemakers
At the start of this school year, in September 2022, we launched our pilot project to teach pupils in London schools about the dangers of air pollution. Project lead, Amy talks us through the project and what we’ve achieved in our first year.
Breathing Unequal: what needs to change?
Our latest research showed shocking inequalities in lung health across the UK. Laura from our Policy team tells us more about it and gives our recommendations for tackling it.
Life with a lung condition - how you're helping us push for change
From January to March 2023, we ran our largest ever survey asking you about your care and experiences of living with a lung condition. Anna from our Data + Insights team explains what the survey was and how your responses are helping us fight for better lung health for all.
Asthma in the workplace: what our supporters told us
We wanted to find out how out how our supporters manage their asthma at work. We surveyed 2000 of our supporters to find out more about how they handle their asthma at work. Laura from our Policy team talks us through what they told us.
Shining a light on Glasgow’s toxic air through the art of pottery
To celebrate Clean Air Day 2023, Asthma + Lung UK was part of an exciting and thought-provoking project which used the art of pottery to highlight the dangers of Glasgow’s toxic air. Maddy, our Regional Campaigns and Policy Officer, is here to tell you all about Glasgow Smogware.