Parent raises money for air pollution filters in school

A parent frustrated by the poor air quality outside her children’s school has raised £22,300 to fund the installation of pollution cleaning filters

Lauren Juliff raised the money for the filters, to be installed at Harris Primary Academy East Dulwich.

Lauren received £17,000 from Southwark’s Greener Cleaner Safer grant and raised the rest of the money by holding a parent’s quiz night, a fun run on Peckham Rye and a summer fair.

Lauren said: “All the parents and staff have been really supportive. As a working parent, I’m not at school often and I have been happy to give something back to the community.

“Public awareness around pollution near schools is growing, and the effects of it has as well.

“We know much more about the way it can impact children’s learning and physical and mental health.”

Headteacher Jo Conduit said: “The units are estimated to cut particulate matter in the air by more than 80 per cent so they are making a real difference to our children’s health and wellbeing.

“The units also filter out dust mites, bacteria and viruses so we hope the children will also suffer from fewer allergies and bugs too.”