Bolton youth-club founder Khadija Patel receives British Citizen Award, then faces online abuse over her niqab

Khadija Patel, from Bolton, received a British Citizen Award in July 2026 for her work with girls and young people, and was photographed accepting it in a niqab. The picture drew abuse online, and she has said she will carry on with her work.

The award

Patel founded KRIMMZ Girls Youth Club in Bolton, which provides sports, wellbeing and development activities, particularly for girls and young women. The British Citizen Awards, which recognise people making extraordinary contributions to their communities, presented her award at the Palace of Westminster. Reports date the ceremony to late July 2026, and one gives 23 July. The Lancashire FA shared a photo of her receiving it.

The reaction

After the photo circulated, it drew abusive comments, including attacks directed at her niqab. The far-right activist Tommy Robinson shared the image, according to reports, writing that it was hard to believe she had been recognised for empowering young women. Patel described the response as upsetting. As reported by Metro, she said people were "seeing my clothes and not seeing my work," and that wearing the niqab is a personal choice that makes her feel comfortable and confident. Reports say Lord Mott, a patron of the awards, condemned the abuse and said she should be celebrated for her work. Those remarks come from secondary reports, and no direct statement from the awards organisation appears in the coverage reviewed.

Some commentators criticised the award itself. In an opinion piece, Spiked questioned whether recognising a niqab-wearing woman for empowering young women was consistent with its own understanding of women's empowerment. This was commentary, not evidence disputing Patel's community work.

What is established

• Patel received a British Citizen Award in July 2026 and was photographed wearing a niqab.
• The photo was followed by online abuse, which she has described publicly.

What is not established

• The exact date of the ceremony, since reports differ slightly.
• The wording of any statement from the British Citizen Awards organisation.

Sources. Metro, 29 July 2026 · MSN, "Muslim woman abused for wearing niqab at prize ceremony vows to continue work" · Spiked, opinion, 28 July 2026 · The Islamic Information

As of 11 October 2026.