'I just feel happy when I'm singing'

Tabatha, from Halifax, will sing live on BBC One on Friday

A seven-year-old girl is preparing for one of the biggest nights of her life as part of the BBC Children in Need choir.

Tabatha, from Halifax, has been chosen alongside 15 other young people to perform a special arrangement of Coldplay song Yellow live on BBC One on Friday.

The youngster was chosen for the choir after receiving help from Invictus Wellbeing, an organisation supporting the mental health of children and young people, and which receives funding from Children in Need.

Her mum, Tammy, said she was "so proud" of her daughter, adding: "Every time we see Pudsey anywhere we go she's ecstatic, she can't wait."

Tabatha's mum, Tammy, said she was "so proud" of her daughter

Tammy said they had become involved with Invictus after she noticed her daughter was "struggling with emotions".

"We were having a lot of door slamming, a lot of big emotions - that I don't think she could deal with very well - so I knew I needed help navigating that with her," she said.

"We sought help from Invictus - and it's just been life changing."

Tabatha said "they helped me with my emotions and they helped me not think of stuff I didn't like".

Reflecting on being selected to take part in the BBC Children in Need choir, she said: "I just feel happy when I'm singing."

Nicola Hanson is a Children's & Young Person's Wellbeing Practitioner at Invictus Wellbeing

Nicola Hanson, from Invictus Wellbeing, said: "She's amazing, she's done so well, and to say how timid and anxious she was - to see her doing things like this, is amazing."

She added: "Invictus relies on funding - we wouldn't be able to help all the children and families without that funding [from BBC Children in Need].

"It's really good that it's unrestricted funding as well.

"We can use it for resources, we can use it for staffing - we can use it however we need to, to be able to fill those gaps, to make sure we're offering the best service for clients.

"Your mental health is everything - when you feel ok, when you feel confident - it makes all the difference. The stories that we have here are so incredible."

Across Yorkshire, 79 projects, supporting nearly 17,000 children and young people, are currently being funded by more than £5.2m of BBC Children in Need funding.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.