DISADVANTAGED youngsters will be given support through music.

Woodlands Community College and Rosewood Free School in Southampton are set to benefit from a £120,000 grant to run a four-year music programme for children living in challenging circumstances.

The grant from the National Foundation for Youth Music was awarded to Southampton arts organisation SoCo Music Project who will provide music lessons in school, at SoCo’s recording studio and at music venues across the city.

Up to 100 youngsters at Woodlands Community School and Rosewood Free School, which caters for children aged two to 19-years-old with profound and multiple learning difficulties will benefit from the scheme.

The programme is part of the Exchanging Notes initiative which will see ten organisations across the UK work to show how learning music both in and out of school can help children engage with the school curriculum.

SoCo is a non profit organisation that works closely with youth organisations, schools, homeless charities and mental health groups and aims to promote and develop creativity in the city.