A youngster from Northumberland is raising awareness for two charities in a pageant.

Abigail Robinson, aged six, is participating in The Royal Sapphire Pageant,which is judged upon individuals’ charitable acts for their community.

The two charities she is raising awareness for are The Sick Children’s Trust, which is this year’s charity of choice for Royal Sapphire Pageants, and the Brain Tumour Charity.

The latter was chosen as a cause close to the family’s heart after Abigail’s grandfather died after a short eight-week battle with a brain tumour during lockdown last year.

The mission of the pageant is to give children a chance to make new friends and become more confident as they have fun dressing up as a prince or princess and at the end one contestant is named King or Queen.

Hayley Dickinson, Abigail’s mother, says she has seen the progress of her daughter both through the charity work and also in herself.

She said of the youngster who goes to school in Ponteland: “Abigail is really excited for the event, she’s enjoying the activities (known as appearances) that we have been doing in preparation for the event, including food bank donations, food bank deliveries, helping at events, supporting other members at their events, raising the funds for charities and donating some of her own toys to charity shops so that other children can use them.”

Hayley says her daughters have a reputation for regularly doing charitable work.

She added: “We, as a family, are immensely proud of Abigail (and her siblings who also fundraise regularly).

“We are raising them to be kind and compassionate and to understand the difference they are making.”

The pageant will take place on October 10 in Southport.

Hayley also added: “We look forward to supporting her on the day in Southport and no matter whether she is crowned or not we will be so proud of what she has achieved!”

If you would like to donate to either or both charities, you can go to: Sick Children’s Trust – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Hayley-Dickinson9 and in memory of her grandfather – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Hayley-Dickinson8