A LOCAL rapper and Young Leader from Blackburn’s £6 million Youth Zone tried his hand at Christmas wrapping instead yesterday.

Sam Ali joined other Young Leaders, staff, and volunteers from the Youth Zone, in Jubilee Street, when he visited The Mall.

The 19-year-old helped to raise money for the Teen Leaders Appeal when he and nine others wrapped Christmas gifts at the shopping centre, between 11am and 7pm.

The Lancashire Telegraph is aiming to raise £60,000 to create 100 Young Leaders, who will gain valuable qualifications, while at the same time helping their local communities.

Sam said the Youth Zone had made a real difference to him and he was delighted to help with the fundraiser.

He said: “I've taken a U-turn. I wasn’t rapping on a mic, I was wrapping Christmas presents for the community to raise money for our Young Leader programme.

“I was looking forward to meeting many people, who came to drop off their presents for us to wrap, and make a donation, so they can see what the Christmas spirit is all about – charity.

“People also got the chance to meet some other Young Leaders and find out about the difference your donation makes to the lives of young people like me.”

Events manager, Laura Jones, said: “For a donation to the Teen Leader appeal, we wrapped people’s Christmas presents especially for them.

“All donations were gratefully received and will go toward our target of raising £60,000 to invest in our Young Leader leadership programme.

“We would like to say a big thank you to The Mall for their continued support in backing and, without them, the Christmas wrapping service in aid of the Youth Zone would not be possible.”

The team will also be at The Mall between 10am and 5pm on Saturday, December 21, between 12pm and 4pm on Sunday, December 22, and between 10am and 4pm on Christmas Eve.