AN inspirational Bracknell man feels honoured to receive an award after raising £1m for good causes.

Ifti Chaudri, 51, who now lives in Warfield joined 25 fellow award winners at Parliament last month where he was awarded the much-coveted honour for charity and voluntary work throughout his community.

He was nominated for the award – the People’s Honour - by his fellow councillors Mike Kusniritis and Mark Adams for his work he has done for the Runnymede community during his mayoral year and beyond.

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Ifti said:  “I was shocked that I actually got selected for it and only 25 people got selected for the award around the UK.

“It’s the highest award you can get for voluntary and community service. I remember there was a gentleman who had built schools for Africa voluntarily and a gentleman who walked around every football pitch in the UK for charity.

“These were exceptional individuals. Just to be around them was a real honour.”

Chaudri was told in December that he would be presented the award in July and therefore had to keep it under wraps for seven months.

Now leading Rishi Sunak’s campaign in Bracknell, this British Citizen's Award recipient said that he has always been into politics due to his father. However, it was during his mayoral year that he realised that the meaning of our lives, the objectives of our life should be to help those in need.

He added: “The excitement that it gives me to have a cup of tea with a homeless person and just have a chat with them, to go to food banks, to go on the streets and try and serve people.

“Everyone is made for different things. I think those are the things that I’m made for and I really do enjoy it.

“I realise now that everyone can make money but the objective is to do good for society and that’s what makes me sleep well at night.”

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Ifti would like to dedicate the award to his father who passed away in 2015.

He said: “I owe everything to him. He used to go out to Pakistan and distribute money to the laborers who were working on the roads, and I used to see acts of kindness and simplicity from him.

“He was the one who pushed me into politics and I wouldn’t have become mayor if it wasn’t for him. He always said when you get to certain positions make sure you help society because then you can help society the most.”