A wide range of people from national figures to local staff and trustees have been celebrated in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for their work in the charity sector.
Neil Heslop, the outgoing chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), received a CBE for services to philanthropy and charity.
Heslop, who announced plans to retire earlier this year, said in a LinkedIn post the award was “a lovely thing for my family, friends, colleagues and I” and said it had been the “privilege of my career” to serve as CAF CEO.
Caroline Siarkiewicz, CAF interim group CEO, said everyone at the organisation “would like to extend congratulations to Neil […] a dedicated supporter for charities and advocate for the power of philanthropy throughout his career”.
Several senior charity leaders were awarded OBEs in the honours list for their work in the sector.
They included Mind CEO Sarah Hughes, for services to mental health and civil society, and the National Trust’s director of communications and fundraising Celia Richardson, for services to conservation.
“I don’t know who put me forward for an OBE but it was very kind and I want to thank them,” Richardson posted on LinkedIn, adding that the not-for-profit sector is “a miracle […] has saved and improved lives for generations”.
Three other CEOs – Paul Finnegan of Lighthouse, Alistair Halliday of the Forces Employment Charity, and Ellen Murphy of Women’s Aid Armagh-Down – were also recognised with OBEs.
They were among many other sector figures in the list of 1,182 award recipients, published on Saturday.
Damehoods
- Beverly Lindsay, chair of the Association of Jamaican Nationals (Birmingham), for services to the West Midlands and to charity.
CBE awards
- Eva Kirsten Rausing, founder of the Alborada Trust, for services to charity, animal welfare, horse racing and bloodstock.
OBE awards
- Javid Canteenwala, trustee and honorary treasurer for the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, for services to philanthropy and charity.
- David Dein, former Arsenal vice-chair and founder of the Twinning Project, for services to football and charity.
- Paul Oxborough, founder of Mental Health Motorbike, for services to mental health and charity.
- Rod Smallwood, Iron Maiden co-manager and founder of Truants Foundation, for services to music and charity.
MBE awards
- Nafiza Anwar, Benash Nazmeen and Sundas Khalid, co-founders and directors of the Association of South Asian Midwives, for services to charity and healthcare.
- Pauline Bothwell, charity secretary, Crossfire Trust, for services to the people of South Armagh.
- Anne Carr, head of grants, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, for services to Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and veterans.
- Paul Jackson, founder and global chair, Astus Group and chair, Off the Ropes Charity, for charitable service.
- Russell Manning, former chair of the Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, for services to the Jewish community and charity.
- Kerry McCafferty, chief people officer, St Mungo’s, for services to charity and people leadership.
- Paul Rawlinson, former chair, Barts Charity, for services to health sector charities.
- Ronald Sawford, co-founder and former managing director, Teamwork Trust and co-founder, Hansa Class UK, for services to charity and disabled people.
- Mark Wills, deputy chair of governors, Royal Star and Garter Charity, for services to Armed Forces Veterans.
- Brenda Couzens, chair of the Penrith Royal National Lifeboat Institution Charity, for voluntary service to the RNLI.
- Christopher Hailey-Norris, CEO, Up For Yorkshire, for services to charity and the community in Yorkshire.
- John Peel, chair of the North Devon Branch, Royal Marines Association, for voluntary service to the Royal Marines, Royal Marines Charity and the veteran community.
- Alex Rigby, fundraising officer for Centre 56, for services to charity.
- Margaret Scott, chair, T21, for services to Down Syndrome children, adults and their families.
- Enola Wright, founder, Insulinoma Charity UK, for services to the insulinoma community.
