Lillian and Fidaa for Asthma UK - British Lung Foundation
Documenting Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation’s Clean Air Campaign
It was a privilege to meet and photograph Fidaa and Lily while supporting the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK’s important campaign for clean air. The campaign highlights the dangers of air pollution, particularly for children living with respiratory conditions like asthma.
Lily, who is nine years old, has experienced breathing problems since she was a baby. Her asthma is exacerbated by exposure to air pollution, a reality that her family only fully understood after borrowing an air quality monitor from the British Lung Foundation. The results revealed regular spikes of nitrogen dioxide that were up to 50 per cent above EU legal limits, even near parks and roads that seemed safe.
The Impact of Air Pollution on Children with Asthma
Children spend significant time at school, yet many are exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution during drop-off and pick-up times. For families like Lily’s, these invisible pollutants pose a serious risk to health, particularly for children with asthma. The campaign calls for measures such as creating ‘school streets’ that restrict traffic near schools, planting more trees, and increasing green spaces to improve air quality.
Parents and communities are demanding more action from politicians and local authorities to protect children’s lungs. Initiatives such as petitions, local advocacy, and monitoring air quality play a crucial role in raising awareness and implementing change. The experiences of Lily and her family illustrate the real-life impact of air pollution on children’s health and wellbeing.
Supporting Clean Air Initiatives
The British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK are working to improve air quality and reduce the risks associated with pollution for children and adults with respiratory conditions. Campaigns like these demonstrate the need for cleaner, safer urban environments and highlight how community action can influence policy and infrastructure. Photography helps to document these campaigns, giving a human face to public health advocacy and showing the urgency of creating healthier spaces for children to live, learn, and play.
By capturing moments like these, the campaign raises awareness and engages wider audiences, reinforcing the importance of clean air for everyone, especially vulnerable children like Lily.