A COUPLE who helped transform a Ghanaian school are to return to carry out further work.

Clive and Pauline Beecham are supporting The Grace Project with the help of Cockerton Methodist Church in Darlington.

The project has raised more than £13,000 for the school in the Ho district of Ghana, and has seen the construction of three new classrooms and a 4,000 litre water tank.

Mr and Mrs Beecham are returning to Ghana next month to deliver more equipment to help with PE and ICT classes.

The couple will be taking football kits and “youth” footballs, along with three laptops and a tablet.

They have already provided equipment including gardening tools and musical instruments for the school.

Mr Beecham, who first visited the country five years ago, said: “We were amazed to find a classroom that was just made out of wood and we decided on our flight back that we wanted to do something about it.

“After the school was completed, we set work on the water tank which was up and running in three days with the help of a local plumber.”

Mr Beecham said he is hoping to make use of the increasing amount of technology available in the country, and wants to see solar power installed at the school.

“Almost everywhere in the village has access to broadband – it is dirt cheap – and people are using Chinese-made mobile phones for basic communication.

“Ultimately we want to raise the money and let the school spend it where they see fit.

“We can guarantee that every penny that is raised will be spent on a worthwhile cause.”

Cockerton Methodist Church is hosting a concert next month to raise further funds for the project.

The event will be held at the church on Friday, February 10 – a week before Mr and Mrs Beecham return to Ghana.

“We are not setting a funding target this time, we just want to raise publicity about the project and what we have done so far.

The concert will feature music from Durham County Big Band with support from Durham County Little Band, with tickets costing £3.