Air pollution campaign Mums For Lungs launches art competition for local kids

South-London based air pollution campaign, Mums ForLungs have launched new art competition inviting kids in Lambeth and Southwark to enter their designs, Winning designs will be turned into lamppost banners …

May 22, 2026 - 11:34

Air pollution campaign Mums For Lungs launches art competition for local kids

South-London based air pollution campaign, Mums ForLungs have launched new art competition inviting kids in Lambeth and Southwark to enter their designs,

Winning designs will be turned into lamppost banners and displayed on a South London street for a whole year as part of the Mums for Lungs Clean Air Art Trail – and 5 lucky winners get a free scooter.

About the campaign

Air pollution is a serious public health concern in Lambeth and Southwark. Despite recent reductions in air pollution across both boroughs, levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5) continue to significantly exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines – putting children, older people and those with existing health conditions at greatest risk [1].

In 2024, 10,000 children with serious breathing problems were admitted to or taken to A&E at King’s College and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals. [2] Places such as Brixton Road remain illegally polluted.

Mums for Lungs is inviting primary school children in Lambeth and Southwark to be part of our campaign to raise awareness of air pollution and help make the air that we breathe safer for everyone.

The ‘Kids For Clean Air’ art competition calls on young artists to design an eye-catching poster that will tell pedestrians and drivers on some of South London’s busiest streets just how important clean air is. [3]

Children have until 5th June to submit their design via the Mums for Lungs webpage to be in with the chance of winning a brand new scooter donated by Micro, and to have their design displayed on a lamppost banner for a whole year. There are resources and tips on the webpage to help young artists learn more about air pollution and to get inspired.

Take part by entering the competition and follow along to hear the winners announced on Clean Air Day, 18th June. Morley College art students will be dropping in to some local primary schools to help children with their designs, and will be adapting the designs to turn them into eye-catching banners.

Data from Lambeth’s 2024 air quality annual status report shows that, despite recent improvements, several monitoring sites across the borough, including Brixton Road, continue to record levels of NO2 that exceed UK legal limits – which are four times as high as the WHO guidelines. These high pollution levels pose a serious threat to children’s health across the borough. [4]

Southwark Council’s data shows similar results, with levels of both NO2 and PM2.5 exceeding WHO guideline levels. The latest annual status report confirms there were no legal exceedances in 2024, but peak levels of NO2 at Tower Bridge Road are almost four times as high as WHO guideline levels. [5] There is no safe level of exposure to air pollution. [6]

Mums For Lungs’ Founder and Director, Jemima Hartshorn, said:

“Our ‘Kids For Clean Air’ art competition is an exciting opportunity for children to raise awareness about air pollution, and have your voices heard.

Too many local kids have asthma or breathing issues that are exacerbated by the air we breathe – and there is nothing they can do about it.

This competition gives them the chance to show how they would like to live without pollution. Join in!”

Southwark Parent, Doctor and Mums For Lungs’ Volunteer, Katia, said:

“As a mum and doctor, I worry about the air my children are breathing.

Dirty air damages young lungs and can affect their health for life. Our children deserve better – we need stronger action to clean up our air.”