A SCHOOL community officer from Blackburn took part in a Downing Street reception yesterday to help promote an awards scheme in secondary schools.

Nazmun Usman, of Beardwood School was invited to go to the capital to discuss the future of the new Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People.

Nazmun was chosen because a pupil from Beardwood School, Omar Anayat, was one of only 15 youngsters to be given an award during its pilot programme in the last school year.

Omar, who was 15 at the time, raised £1,300 with a charity football match in memory of one of his friends who died after a short illness.

Omar was one of just five award-winners chosen to meet the Secretary of State for Education, David Blunkett, who launched the scheme.

Now the award programme is revving up for the new school year and participating schools are being asked to encourage other schools in their area to make nominations.

Nazmun and other invited guests went to 11 Downing Street yesterday to listen to a brief outline of the aims of the award from Baroness Andrews, Director of Education Extra.