You’ve done something incredible.
Six classrooms at Burley Oaks Primary are now breathing easier.
All because of you.
Children are learning, laughing, and thriving while six air cleaners quietly work away.
Each one filters the air several times an hour — dust, allergens, and airborne viruses don’t stand a chance.
Teachers feel safer. Parents feel reassured.
And Smart Air gave a generous discount so your donations went even further.
This is your impact. Be proud of it.
Burley Oaks need 30 air cleaners.
Six are sorted. 24 are still waiting.
Clean air is as basic as clean water.
No child should be at risk because of the air in their classroom.
Here’s what it takes:
£170 funds a full unit
£65 keeps it running for a year
Every pound goes directly to equipment and school support.
And we’ll keep sharing updates so you can see what you’ve made possible.
This September, we’re starting a campaign for another school.
The success at Burley Oaks shows what’s possible.
Burley Oaks Primary School has 6 Air Purifiers because of you.
Let’s finish the job.
With heartfelt thanks,
The Trustees
The Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation UK
Registered Charity RCN 1206282
Dear GP Colleagues,
As medical professionals, we understand that health starts in the home. But how often do we consider the air our patients breathe indoors during the 80 to 90 per cent of time they spend inside buildings?
The Royal College of Physicians’ 2025 report, A Breath of Fresh Air, presents clear evidence that indoor air quality should be treated as a significant and modifiable public health issue, not just an environmental concern.
Outdoor air pollution harms the lungs, heart and brain. What is now becoming clearer is that indoor environments create additional risk. Health is affected by things like poor ventilation, damp, mould, and fumes from heating or cooking.
Damp is a problem in more than 900,000 homes across England. These conditions are more likely to affect older people, lone parents, children, low-income households and some ethnic minority groups. They add to the health inequalities many of our patients already face.
Children, older adults and people with chronic conditions face greater harm from poor indoor air. Awaab Ishak, who died aged two after being exposed to mould at home, reminds us why this matters.
Indoor pollution can bring on asthma, make COPD worse, and increase the risk of heart problems. For people already managing health conditions, poor indoor air adds further risk.
The Royal College of Physicians recommends that clinicians support patients by:
Asking about housing and indoor conditions, especially when seeing patients with respiratory symptoms
Giving clear advice on ventilation and ways to reduce indoor pollution
Helping patients raise housing concerns with landlords and local authorities
Supporting policy change at practice or ICB level to improve housing and air standards
Simple steps like using extractor fans, keeping rooms dry, opening windows, and heating homes properly can all help.
We should treat indoor air quality as part of our role in preventing illness. This matters even more as energy efficiency upgrades are introduced. Improving insulation must not come at the cost of reduced ventilation.
Health professionals remain among the most trusted voices in the UK. This puts us in a strong position to talk about how air pollution affects health and to back changes that could help patients.
The full report is worth reading. It offers ways we can better support people whose health is being harmed by indoor air.
With best wishes,
Dr James Milligan
Medical Doctor and Trustee, Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation UK
When most people think of air pollution, they picture car fumes, smog, or factory smoke. But what many don’t realise is that indoor air – in our homes, schools and workplaces – can be more polluted than what we breathe outdoors.
On Clean Air Day, we’re shining a light on this hidden issue – and what we can do about it.
We spend around 90% of our time indoors. But while the air outside is monitored and regulated, indoor air is not. In classrooms, homes and other shared spaces, pollutants can build up – and in some cases, reach levels far higher than outdoors.
Cooking, cleaning, heating and even everyday products like candles or aerosols release tiny airborne particles. When there’s not enough ventilation, they linger. And unlike a visible cloud of smoke, these pollutants are usually invisible.
One group of particles, called PM₂.₅ (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns wide), is especially concerning. They’re small enough to reach deep into the lungs – and even pass into the bloodstream.
Children are especially vulnerable. Their lungs are still developing, and they breathe faster than adults. Yet many children spend over 1,000 hours a year in classrooms – often in poorly ventilated conditions.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health warns that indoor air pollution can trigger asthma, worsen respiratory symptoms and affect concentration. Damp, mould, cooking fumes and some cleaning products all contribute.
Airborne illness is another concern. COVID-19 made it clear that viruses spread more easily indoors. Good ventilation and filtration help remove these from the air – just as they help remove pollution.
The evidence is consistent and growing: when we clean the air, children get sick less often, concentrate better, and miss fewer school days.
The good news? We don’t need to wait for major infrastructure changes. Air purifiers – including low-cost DIY models – can reduce particle levels by 40–60% in typical indoor spaces.
They work. They’re affordable. And they make an immediate difference.
That’s why the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation UK is working with Burley Oaks Primary School to install 30 air purifiers across classrooms and shared spaces. It's the first school in the country to partner with us, and we hope it’s the first of many.
We’ve already raised 50% of the funding we need. With your help, we can finish the job – and give every child at Burley Oaks a better chance to learn and stay well.
Clean air shouldn't be a luxury. It’s as essential as clean water.
Help us give children the air they deserve.
Donate here: https://justgiving.com/campaign/cleanairburleyoaks
