Aimee Gilmour is one of a number of youngsters set to battle it out for the title later this month after her many extra-curricular activities and ambasassador work for the charity Spirit Aid won her plaudits from all corners of the community.

The twelve-year-old Rothesay Primary pupil's wider recognition comes after she threw herself into much of what Bute has to offer, following the move to her Mount Pleasant home from Irvine with mum Claire, and dad John a year ago.

The self effacing youngster said: "I do lots of stuff in Rothesay such as gymnastics, the school's breakfast club, horse riding and volunteering to work with horses, as well as playing the clarinet."

But there is so much more to the bubbly youngster, who first came to the attention of the island when she appeared at Rothesay Primary's EX Factor show last spring.

Aimee, who won the Irvine version of the show wowed her Bute audience with her performance of 'What About Me?' and hasn't looked back since.

Proud dad, John, said: "Aimee is a celebration of human spirit, and it is no surprise that her charisma and character led to her becoming an ambassador for David Hayman's charity Spirit Aid and has recorded her song for the organisation. 'What About Me'? forms part of the soundtrack to the short Scottish film 'Everybody I know Drinks.'

However it is not only youngsters who are inspired by Aimee. John continued: "Singing sensation, Nikkita Angus and 2006 Young Scot of the Year, Fraz Rahim recently joined Aimee in a special X factor show to help struggling youth club, Milton Wanderers.

"Her efforts not only raised £500 to boost funds for the youth club but also put two of the evening's competitors on the road to stardom."

Meanwhile back in Rothesay, teachers at the town's joint campus and members of the Rotary Club of Rothesay have been persuaded to assist in funding a project for the school's P7 and S1 pupils during the April holidays.

Mum Claire explained: "Spirit Aid came to the school not long after Aimee started there, and now they are putting up part of the funding for a project which will see the pupils producing and directing a film.

"The pupils will do everything, right from the ideas brainstorming through to the finished article. It will be all their own work and will be great experience.

"Then the school would like to adopt a creche in a South African township. It is really heartbreaking to see the conditions endured by children who live there."

In the meantime Aimee's next big day is at the star studded Young Scots Awards ceremony in Glasgow's City Halls on Thursday, March 20. The show will be hosted by top GMTV presenter Jenni Falconer.

First Minister Alex Salmond will present the winner with the trophy and fingers all over the island are crossed for Aimee, who was nominated by a number of people, including Gavin Steveley, who said: "Aimee is a very special young girl. When she walks into the room, she lights it up."

The Buteman can testify to that. What was supposed to be a ten minute interview and photocall turned out to take well over an hour because she had such an interesting story to tell.

Unfortunately space prohibits us from doing much more than scratch the surface but we feel sure that she will appear in our columns many times in the future.