A charity boss has been honoured with an OBE as part of the Queen’s birthday honours for her “outstanding commitment” to improving the lives of others.

Adviza’s chief executive, Katharine Horler, received her Officer of the Order of the British Empire from the Queen at Windsor Castle, describing the experience as “special and humbling”.

She said: “We each had the opportunity for a short conversation with the Queen who was very interested in young people who need some extra help to get started in life.”

Adviza provides support to more than 50,000 young people and adults each year across the Thames Valley, as they make choices about education, training or work.

Ms Horler started her career in the 1980s as a special needs career advisor, and has since worked to support vulnerable young people and adults.

She became chief executive of Connexions Berkshire in 2003 and, in 2008, took on Connexions Thames Valley, which became a registered charity. This was renamed Adviza Partnership in 2011.

Terry Stock, chairman of the board of trustees for Adviza, said: “Katharine lives and breathes her passion for those most in need, finding new ways to fill funding gaps and new initiatives to inspire young people and adults.”