Calling all talented young Sunderland singers - here is your chance to shine

This year’s Best of Wearside Awards has a brand new category.

We will be crowning the first ever Young Voice of Wearside at the awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 1.

And the four best acts – either solo singers or groups - who make it to the shortlist will all get to perform in front of a live audience at the Stadium of Light.

So if you think you know someone who has what it takes to impress, send us a video of them performing and our judges will take a look.

All contestants must be aged under 18 to qualify for this category of the awards. They must also live in the Wearside area.

All we need for them to be considered is a video – or an online link – to show them performing.

The Young Voice of Wearside category is only one of many that we will be considering at the awards finale.

Take a look at the full list below.

This year’s competition has backing from headline sponsor BGL, partner sponsor Utility Alliance, partner sponsor Gentoo, and category sponsor Marelli.

We thank them all for getting on board, and now comes your turn to get involved.

We hope you will inundate us with entries and make the job of the judges that much harder.

Take a look at the categories, read the entry instructions, and your favourite cause will be a step closer to hopefully winning a Best of Wearside title.

THE CATEGORIES

:: Community Group of the Year.

:: Student of the Year.

:: Green Champion of the Year.

:: Child of Courage.

:: Child of Achievement.

:: Young Voice of Wearside (under 18).

:: Fundraiser of the Year.

:: Volunteer of the Year.

:: Sporting Achievement of the Year.

::Community Champion Award.

HOW TO NOMINATE

To nominate, just send your name, address and telephone number, as well as your email address, if applicable. Remember to include the category you are putting your nominated cause into.

Also send the name of the person you wish to nominate, along with their address, telephone number and email (if known).

Send all of that to Lynn Wild by no later than March 2. Judging of all the entries will be held that same week with the finale at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, April 1.

There are three ways to nominate.

l Email those entries to [email protected].

l Post them to Lynn Wild, North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), Wearfield Enterprise Park East, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 2TA.

l Visit the website at https://www.bestofwearside.co.uk.

And don’t forget to include the video or online link if you are nominating someone for the Young Voice of Wearside category (solo or group).