A WELL-known Bradford figure has received an honorary doctorate by the University of Bradford for her work in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and her community work.
Dr Sofia Buncy MBE. DL. was awarded her doctorate on Thursday in an awards ceremony at the university for her work on Muslim Women in Prison, a grass-roots, community-led initiative which has helped change theory, practice and policy for prison leavers.
She was also awarded the doctorate for her community work in Bradford and her passion for her work was noted by Professor Engobo Emeseh of the University of Bradford.
Ms Buncy said: “It’s a huge honour to be awarded this doctorate and to have my work and efforts recognised by a principal institute.
“It’s encouraging to see my work being recognised especially when it started off at a grass-roots level.
“Hopefully in the future, I can collaborate with the university on academic projects and research into the CJS.
“It speaks greatly of the values of the university for them to give me this doctorate for the work I’ve done in race and gender equality.
"The work has by no means been easy, but it just shows now that my work has been recognised for excellence and seen to be pioneering and innovative.
“My work looks at gender inequality and racial injustice and I think this lines up with the university’s values as they try to offer the best experience to their students while being conscious of very real-world challenges."
She is currently going on into her fifth piece of research with her team and has already contributed to several books and journal publications.
Her work across Bradford was also highlighted, including the Young in Covid project which Ms Buncy has been working on since the pandemic as well as her enthusiasm for other social and charitable causes.
“It’s a well-rounded nest, I’ve got my community work, my academic work and then I also focus on strategic and policy work. It can be tiring but rewarding to see the difference be made in the lives of people and it is that which propels me forward’
“So many people have congratulated me on this, and it means a lot but it’s people who have been with me throughout my journey and have seen me putting effort into making a difference”.
“You have to work relentlessly to get this kind of recognition and for people to look at your work and think it’s worthy of a PHD.”
In the future, she hopes to work with the university and research segments of the CJS to help shape the system and create change.
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