THIS year’s New Year’s Honours list will feature a name that many people in Bolton may well be familar with.

Inayat Omarji has been involved with a list of community projects and initiatives far too long to name and will be recognised for his efforts by receiving an MBE from the Queen.

He is perhaps best known for his work spearheading the remarkable multi-million pound transformation of the All Souls Church building in Astley Bridge.

He chaired the committee which worked with the Churches Conservation Trust to convert the redundant Anglican church building into a futuristic community centre.

The 41-year-old then stepped down from that role to focus on another of his passions, health.

He has been the chief organiser of Bolton’s first GP federation, which is a new umbrella group aimed at bringing all GPs in Bolton together to look at how the Government’s planned 7-day NHS access can be realised across the borough.

Born and bred in Blackburn Road, Mr Omarji is currently a practice director at the Orient health centre in Wigan Road.

He started his career in the leisure sector and was a duty manager at the former Waterplace centre as well as managing the Horwich Leisure Centre.

He has continued his interest in the sector by sitting on the current board of the Bolton Community Leisure Trust.

All of this work and effort has to be balanced with a busy home life as Inayat and his wife have six children.

He said he was delighted to be told he would be receiving the MBE for services to built heritage and community in Bolton.

He added: “I don’t do this work for the accolades, I do it because I want to give something back to Bolton and the people here.

“I would like to accept this award on behalf of all of the people and the partnerships I have worked with and for Bolton in general.

“I am not totally sure who nominated me but I am very grateful for this honour and as I say there are many people i would like to share it with.”

He added: “Everything I do is for Bolton.”

Not content with his commitments in Bolton’s health and leisure sectors, Mr Omarji is also one of the project leaders on the planned new Mosque that is set to be built in Blackburn Road.

He said he expects work to begin ‘in the very near future’ on the development.

Joining Mr Omarji on the honours list will be another well deserving local recipient.

Bernie Ryan, from Bolton, was formerly the directorate manager of St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester and will receive an OBE for services to supporting people affected by sexual assault.