A 13-year-old Blackburn schoolgirl will host an awards event later this year.

Sara Hussain, a student at Witton Park Academy will be part of the hosting team at the One Voice Annual Dinner and 1V Awards taking place in King George’s Hall in October 2021.

The youngster is part of the West End Girls (WEGs) run by One Voice Blackburn.

The charity celebrates it’s tenth anniversary with the event entitled ‘The Show Must go On’, recognising the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic over the last 18 months.

Sara said: “To say I’m ecstatic about hosting the One Voice Annual Dinner and 1V Awards is an understatement. I feel honoured to have been selected be part of the hosting team at an event of this scale. At first, I was nervous because the amount of preparation that makes the event a success is crazy. I never thought it would be possible for me to ever have this opportunity but that’s the thing with One Voice, anything is possible.”

The dinner will host the 1V Awards to celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups in Blackburn with Darwen. It will also showcase the work of community charity One Voice Blackburn, including an exclusive performance by pop group BANNED Cohesion.

One Voice Blackburn Chief Executive Zaffer Khan said: “At One Voice Blackburn we like to cultivate and nurture our own young talent. We have every faith in Sara to deliver an exceptional performance on the stage at King George’s Hall."

The 1V Awards, which will also feature at the One Voice Dinner, will include a number of awards including 1V young Person of the Year, 1V Group of the Year, 1V Man and Woman of the Year.

Nominations for the 1VA wards are now open.