DJ CHRIS Powell is well known for his charitable work, having put on numerous fundraising events under his Band 4 Life banner. So it comes as no surprise that when the current refugee crisis hit the headlines he jumped into action to create his latest musical pledge, Hear To Help.

Band 4 Life’s Hear to Help - “a special refugee fundraiser” – has so far seen Phillious Williams, the Captain’s Daughter, Angel And The Melodyhorns, the Kingdom, Owen Williams, Matt Linnen, Husk, Sarah Holburn, Nathan Abbot, the Timlins and Ruben Caruana rise to the occasion, which will take place at the Squeeze Cafe, in Grove End, Leigh, on Sunday October 3 at 7pm.

There are only 100 tickets on sale. With the addition of a raffle the hope is that at least £1,000 will be raised on the night and given to the Southend-based Humanity Washed Ashore project.

Chris said he had been invited to see the nerve centre of the operation which has been collecting a mass of textiles and toys locally in aid of the crisis.

He said: “It was so moving to see what the guys were doing there. It is a great project, very trustworthy, so I want to contribute the money raised to them so they can assign it to the best practices as to howmoney should be spent.

He added: “We have had so much support from artists and businesses, and some fantastic raffle prizes, but we can never have too many of those of course, so if anyone can help, please ask them to get in touch.”

Raffle prizes so far come from Henry Burgers in Leigh, Manoly’s in Leigh, Utopia coffee shop in Southend and Fives Records on Leigh Broadway.

Tickets are on sale now available from Utopia in the Royals, Southend; Fives in the Broadway, Leigh and the Squeeze Cafe in Leigh. The fee is a suggested donation of between £5 and £10.

Find out more via facebook.com/humanitywas hedashorecollection or the Facebook Band4Life public group.