Students are working hard to promote and campaign for the rights of citizens.

Schoolchildren from the Sir John Colfox Academy and Bridport Primary School - two of the four schools in the Minerva Learning Trust - are working with UNICEF to promote the understanding of human and child rights, as well as creating a new ‘Charter of Respect’.

Young artists of the Minerva Learning Trust have already created a mural celebrating the role that town traders, including market traders, play in the community. It is on show in Bridport Arts Centre café and was unveiled at this year’s Charter Fair, when students collected comments from the public which will be added to the mural.

David Powell, Bridport Rights Respecting Town chairman, said: “The schools have responded brilliantly to the opportunity to create an iconic piece of art for our town. I’d particularly like to thank artists Ricky Romain and Heather Fallows and Colfox head of art, Louise Burgess, for their expertise and support.”

The longer-term aim is to create a logo and charter that will represent a new ‘Charter of Respect’ between shopkeepers and customers.

The idea for the respect charter was initiated by Bridport trader Jason Foote, of Footeprints, who approached Colfox rights ambassadors to see if they could help with occasionally difficult customer/trader relations and dialogue.

The ambassadors will consult with the public and town shopkeepers and stallholders to create this charter.

Adam Shelley, headteacher at the Sir John Colfox Academy, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to show off their artistic skills as well as talk to the community about respect and help to shape the ‘Charter of Respect’.

“There are lots of students and teachers involved in projects which bring the school and community closer together. I would like to thank Louise Burgess for all her work to support this excellent project. Please go and see the amazing artwork of Bridport students.”