Sheffield City Council has allocated £1 million from Clean Air Zone (CAZ) income to fund a series of initiatives designed to enhance air quality throughout the city.

A significant portion of this investment, exceeding £900,000, is specifically directed toward projects that protect school children from the harmful effects of air pollution.

The funding supports eight primary schemes, with a heavy focus on encouraging sustainable travel methods such as walking, cycling, and the use of public transport. As part of these efforts, more than 400 pupils will receive cycle training through Bikeability North to improve their road confidence. Additionally, the investment has provided 10 new cycle storage units for schools and extended the Modeshift STARS School Engagement Team for another year to work with 70 educational institutions on clean air projects.

Road safety and air quality outside schools are also being addressed through physical traffic measures. New 20mph speed restrictions are being implemented outside 22 schools, while 19 eligible schools are participating in the School Streets initiative, which involves closing roads to traffic during peak drop-off and pick-up times.

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Beyond school-based projects, over £81,000 has been set aside to maintain 40 residential cycle storage units across the borough for the next decade. Furthermore, new drivers in the city are being offered a free 90-minute electric vehicle (EV) tutorial and driving experience to encourage the transition to greener transport.

The urgency of these measures is highlighted by data showing that air pollution contributes to between 250 and 500 deaths annually in Sheffield. Children are particularly vulnerable, as poor air quality can lead to permanent lung damage, cardiovascular disease, and other serious long-term health issues.

Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: "Our children and young people are our future. The impact of poor air quality on their health starts during early pregnancy and long-term exposure can leave their lungs permanently damaged."

"We want to give them the best possible start, that's why we have invested over £900,000 into projects to improve air quality around our schools, as well as programmes to educate our young people about how they can make greener choices when they travel around our city."

"We're also working to boost their confidence in cycling, through cycling schemes, as well as giving them the voice to promote road safety within their schools."

"Through the Clean Air Zone, we are already seeing major improvements to pollution levels across the city, and CAZ investment is allowing us to make even more improvements with real impact, but there's more to be done."

"We all have a responsibility to make changes to our everyday behaviours to get air quality in Sheffield to a level where it truly needs to be, through this investment, we are working to see the change that will benefit the next generation of Sheffielders."