A GROUP of volunteers from Bolton will travel to Kenya in the summer to help people including young boys forced to live on the streets and sell plastic to survive.

The team, from The Salvation Army in Bolton, will embark on a mission trip to western Kenya to help some of the most disadvantaged people there and to work on some of the charity's projects.

To raise money for the visit, there will be a concert featuring leading brass band ensemble, Fanfara.

It will be at the Bolton Citadel Salvation Army, St Georges Road, at 7.30pm on Saturday, April 25.

Matthew Fearn, from Bolton Salvation Army, said: "The group, with musicians drawn from all over the UK, will be performing a selection of traditional and contemporary music, with a twist of upbeat arrangements and solos.

"On the evening Fanfara will be supported by Bolton Citadel’s own junior singing group.

"Residents of Bolton are invited to join us for the musical gala — it is sure to be a fun event for all the family."

During the visit to Kenya, volunteers will help with a project working with boys who live on the streets of Kakamega and survive by collecting plastic and trying to sell it on.

The project has been running for just over a year and has already managed to reunite four boys with their families, got some on a trial place at school and has formed two football teams, who — thanks to Bolton Wanderers FC — play matches in new strips.

The ultimate aim is to teach the boys life skills that will enable them to work and support themselves and get them off the streets.

The volunteers will team up with the Survivors Women’s Group, which works with street prostitutes, giving education and health care advice and teaching them other skills such as hairdressing.

They also aim to visit a mobile health outreach clinic which provides basic health care to people who otherwise would not have any due to lack of funds or the distance required to get to a doctor.

Tickets for the Fanfara Brass Concert, in aid of The Salvation Army’s work in Kenya, will be at the Bolton Citadel Salvation Army, St Georges Road, at 7.30pm on Saturday, April 25.

Tickets cost £5 and are available from Matthew Fearn on 01942 569920 or by e mailing matthew_fearn@hotmail.com.