A WEST Dorset musical group has teamed up with local schools to help refugees.

The Bride Valley Band is supporting the School Bus Project with a special concert tomorrow (29) in West Bay. The project provides direct help to refugees forced out of their own countries by war and famine.

The School Bus Project team has converted a double decker bus into a mobile school and is training teachers to provide vital education and support for the refugees in Calais and across Europe.

Bridport Minerva Trust schools will be supporting this project over the next year. Students from the Sir John Colfox Academy taking part in the Edge leadership programme have drawn up benefits to the project in recent discussions.

The pupils believe refugees will be less reliant on state aid and, in time may be able to return to their own country, which most would wish to do, to help rebuild. Should they choose to stay in Europe, they will become citizens with improved skills to contribute to the country they live in.

David Powell, Bride Valley Band member, said: "Refugee children struggle to live in camps poorly equipped to allow them to have the rights that protect them.

"Articles 28 and 29 of the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) state that children and young people have the right to an education. Millions of displaced children worldwide are struggling to access this basic right leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation.

"The School Bus project places schools and staff directly into refugee camps. Children and citizens of Bridport can shake off their post Brexit blues and help make a real difference to the lives of child refugees."

The Bride Valley Band is a campaigning group of local musicians who come together to support good causes around child rights both to raise awareness and educate. At a recent concert, more than £650 was raised for Bridport’s Cupboard Love food bank programme, supporting local vulnerable families.

The band will perform at a special School Bus concert at St John’s Church, West Bay tomorrow, from 7.30pm until 9.30pm.

Tickets are available on the door with all proceeds going towards supporting the project.