A BRADFORD woman who was the youngest person included in the King’s Birthday Honours list has spoken of her delight.

Shamza Butt, 20, received a British Empire Medal for her work at the voluntary development programme National Citizen Service (NCS) on behalf of young people.

Shamza arrived in the UK from Italy seven years ago.

Unable to speak any English and struggling for confidence in her new home of Bradford, Shamza joined an NCS project to make new friends and has since become a prolific volunteer.

Shamza is now a serving police officer and has taken on several voluntary roles, including work with the NCS Youth Voice Forum and the Peer Action Collective, as well as projects to help her local community and combat youth crime.

Shamza, who was nominated for the honour by NCS, said: “When the headed letter from Buckingham Palace came through the post, I couldn’t have felt more honoured.

“I had to Google it and double-check to make sure it was real.”

She added: “I have done so much work with National Citizen Service, from social action and charitable work to volunteering at the Queen’s funeral and the King’s Coronation.

“My work with the Peer Action Collective has enabled me to campaign against knife crime.

“I arrived in the UK as a young 16-year-old who wanted to learn the language and make some friends.

“I joined NCS for a summer and it is the best thing I ever did. My confidence boosted up and I have met so many people including friends for life and done so many remarkable things.

“My parents are very proud. I’m the first to do a lot of things in my family, including volunteering and winning an award.”

Last year, Shamza embarked on her dream career in the police force.

She said: “I could have gone to university, however, because of my work done in the community and my time on NCS, I am driven to helping people and that’s what motivated me to getting involved in public services.

“NCS have been a big motivator for me wanting to help people. After two years of application and exams, I finally achieved my dream job as a police officer. I want to say a massive thank you to NCS, who encouraged me not to give up. I can’t wait to see how my journey goes.”

Also from Bradford, Susan Ann Jones, operations manager at the Legal Aid Agency was made an MBE for services to the civil justice system.

Rizwan Rehman, chair of governors at Lapage Primary School and Nursery, also received a British Empire Medal for services to education.