We focus on four complex health issues more prevalent in urban areas
With the Social Progress Imperative, we've developed the first neighbourhood level, health-focused social progress index of its kind.
With Wellcome Trust
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Health effects of air pollution • Research and development
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A report from our community research into people's experiences of air pollution in Lambeth and Southwark
Research has shown us that air pollution is having a disproportionate impact on people living on low incomes, including Black and Asian communities. Yet air pollution is often seen as a white, middle class issue, and often the communities most vocal about this issue are from wealthier, less polluted areas. Together with The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP), we set out to better understand the views of those in Lambeth and Southwark who are most impacted by air pollution, but least heard.
The project included a literature review which helped inform the project and our research questions. It found the current literature is lacking in authentic urban voices, is missing an interdisciplinary approach and is dominated by white, middle-class voices. Despite a history of environmental activism within Lambeth and Southwark, led by Black and other minority ethnic communities, there are tensions and barriers to engagement that we need to understand to ensure an inclusive, collaborative approach.
To explore this, Community Researchers recruited 81 community members to take part in a ‘have your say’ survey, and set up an ‘Air Pollution Forum’ with fourteen community members from diverse backgrounds who met fortnightly to discuss a variety of air pollution issues.
TSIP’s approach replaces more common, extractive research methods and is built upon principles of community leadership and co-ownership. Local people are recruited and trained to carry out the research, and these Community Researchers bring invaluable neighbourhood knowledge and relationships to the project.
“ Air pollution is affecting daily life but will have more impact on future generations, therefore needs to be locked down before crisis point. Abdul Survey respondent
Air pollution is affecting daily life but will have more impact on future generations, therefore needs to be locked down before crisis point.
Together, the Community Researchers found:
A valuable outcome from those brought together for the ‘Air Pollution Forum’ was that they now feel informed and empowered to make a change. We think there is an opportunity to re-launch the Air Pollution Forum as a local community-led action group that could lead a community-led campaign to increase public understanding about air pollution. Opportunities to tap into this include:
“ We need help to be able to hold people to account and drive change from the community. Natasha Survey respondent
We need help to be able to hold people to account and drive change from the community.
The findings of our research point to a historic lack of understanding and effort to engage underrepresented communities on the health impacts of air pollution, the need to value lived experience as data, and to engage these communities in the research, design and implementation of measures to tackle air pollution.
The report calls for more research to understand the barriers to engagement, and makes the following recommendations:
This project is part of the early stages of our programme, exploring how we amplify the voices of those who are most impacted by air pollution. Our long-term vision is for this work to inform both our programme strategy and narrative, as well as identifying practical projects that we might support, including by continuing to work with TSIP and the community researchers.
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