Award for breast surgery tattoo artist's work

Lucy Thompson now helps train other tattoo artists as part of her charity's work

The founder of a charity which offers breast cancer patients nipple tattoos after reconstructive surgery has been given a national award.

Lucy Thompson, who runs the Nipple Innovation Project (NiP) in Cullingworth, Bradford, has received a British Citizen Award (BCA).

The awards, dubbed the People's Honours, are for people who make an outstanding contribution to society.

Ms Thompson, who was among 27 people receive the accolade at the Palace of Westminster on 24 July, said: "It's the ultimate affirmation."

The 35-year-old has been a tattoo artist for more than 12 years and set up the charity in 2018.

"I run it on a volunteer basis," she said.

"We work very, very hard in and amongst our daily work and life commitments, to reach more people.

"To have recognition, and an award, for all the hard work that we've done collectively over the past nearly eight years is just the ultimate reassurance that we're on the right track."

The BCA medals are given out twice a year to people who "strengthen the fabric of society"

About 300 patients are treated for breast cancer in Bradford each year, with the majority retaining their nipples.

The areola, the area of skin around the nipple, can be tattooed to improve its appearance after surgery.

Last year the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust announced a partnership with Ms Thompson's charity.

The mother-of-one now helps train other medical tattoo artists around the country.

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