A CHILDREN’S charity is looking for disabled youngsters and their carers who deserve to be made a star.

The Children’s Foundation Stars Awards celebrate the achievements of children, their carers and friends whose lives have been affected by any disability.

Nominations are now open and the North-East charity is appealing to people in the region to put forward someone who they think deserves some extra recognition.

There are three categories: child or young person; friend or sibling; parent or carer.

The awards will be presented to the winners at a ceremony which will be held at the Riverside Ground, home of Durham County Cricket Club, in Chester-le- Street, on Thursday, June 25, between noon and 2pm.

Caroline O’Doherty, operations director of The Children’s Foundation, said: “It will be a fantastic afternoon for the children.

“It’s nice to have an event for them and their parents.

“We are thrilled that Durham County Cricket Club is hosting the event.

“It’s a great venue for the ceremony and we look forward to working with them.”

The scheme was set up by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle in 2007 as part of the Lord Mayor’s Centenary Appeal.

It has since grown to involve the whole of the North-East.

The awards are sponsored by Land Securities, a real estate investment trust, and the medals and trophies are supplied free of charge by Trend International.

To be eligible for the child or young person award, the nominees must be aged from three to 18, have a significant disability, and be educated or receive treatment in the North-East, have faced significant challenges, and be nominated by a parent, carer or professional.

Nominees in the friend or sibling category must be befriending or supporting a child with a disability being educated or receiving treatment in the North- East, and be nominated by a child or young person, family member or teacher.

In the parent or carer category, nominees should have a child with a disability being educated or receiving treatment in the North-East, have faced significant challenges to support their child or children and be nominated by a health professional or service provider.

To make a nomination, call Hannah Jackson on 0191-282-0000 or email: hannah.jackson @nuth.nhs.uk