Teenager recording charity single for Help for Heroes

A TEENAGE singer-songwriter is recording a charity single for Help for Heroes.

In her already fledgling music career, Shakila Karim, 13, a pupil at Newport Free Grammar School, has released two songs independently this year and performed at the Stortford Music Festival.

But now the young musician wants to make a positive contribution to those who serve their country in Afghanistan and Iraq – many of whom are parents of her fellow classmates.

“I want to help the brave soldiers coming back from Afghanistan with horrible injuries and believe this is one way I can make a difference.

“I think people can often forget what the soldiers are doing out there so this is a good way of getting more people to help them,” she said.

Having found volunteers to help with the single’s release, Shakila, pictured, will be recording the vocals for the song – which was written by her father Karim Ullah – at a professional studio this weekend.

The aim is for the track, titled Heroes, to be available electronically on iTunes and Napster by the end of November, with all the proceeds going to the charity Help for Heroes.