A dedicated Wigan borough nurse has been awarded an MBE for her services to the military

Emma Grimshaw, a Captain in the Army Reserves, was awarded this prestigious accolade for the vital role she played in the success of Operation Lazurite.

This urgent and complex operation safely relocates and resettles eligible Afghans to the UK, many of whom supported the UK mission in Afghanistan, often at great personal risk.

An NHS nurse since 2009, Emma who lives in Pennington, describes herself as having always been drawn towards safeguarding, working with those most vulnerable within society to ensure that their voices are heard and their safety assured.

As Warrington’s named nurse for safeguarding and children in care at Bridgewater, Emma was the perfect candidate to lead on safeguarding for this national operation.

As a result, the mum-of-four was temporarily released from her NHS role to take part in the campaign, where she provided Afghan families with housing and integration support on military bases before they moved on to permanent homes.

The families being supported by the operation have been displaced, many across the world, with small children and babies sometimes separated from their parents, others with disabilities. Access to basic services such as healthcare, housing and education, being a challenge.

Many of the families have experienced severe trauma at the hands of the Taleban and the conflict in Afghanistan.

Emma said: “In our country, we don’t understand what people living in areas of conflict go through, we take our human rights for granted. It was humbling to listen to the life stories of the children and families.

“These were people who supported the UK efforts within Afghanistan, some have ordinary jobs just like us - doctors, teachers and nurses. Our promise was to bring them to the UK to begin their lives in the safety of the UK - together.

“We needed to work with them, identify any challenges, and put support in place to help prepare them for life in the UK. We needed to ensure that we kept the UK’s promise of safety – in appreciation of the support they gave.”

On Emma’s achievement, chief executive officer of Bridgewater Community Healthcare, Nikhil Khashu said: “As a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, we are always keen to support our colleagues who are part of the Armed Forces community.

“We’re extremely proud of Emma for her dedication to safeguarding those in need. She embodies everything we as a Trust believe in, showing kindness, true leadership and resilience when faced with adversity.”

Major General Ben Cattermole, the current commander of Operation Lazurite added: “Emma’s contribution to the operation is one that stands out as an example of the finest traditions of military service - someone with compassion, supporting people in the most difficult situations with passion and excellence.”

Emma will officially receive her MBE from the Palace later this year.

She added: “I’d like to thank my team and safeguarding leadership within Bridgewater for their support, which enabled me to take the time out to support such an important operation.

“Receiving the MBE is an absolute honour and not something I expected. I was just glad to have the opportunity to make a difference to so many lives.”