Several people across the UK charity sector have been recognised for their achievements and service in the New Year Honours List 2024.
Founder of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity and the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Felicity Ann Dahl was awarded a damehood for services to philanthropy, to literature and to young people.
Other charity founders were recognised in the list of 1,227 people, as well as charity staff members, volunteers, trustees, patrons, and philanthropists.
CBE
Refuge chair Hetti Barkworth-Nanton has received a CBE for her services to people affected by domestic abuse and domestic homicide.
Barkworth-Nanton joined Refuge as chair in 2020 and is also co-founder of the Joanna Simpson Foundation.
In both roles, Barkworth-Nanton has campaigned to transform the care, support and protection of women and children affected by domestic abuse and homicide.
Barkworth-Nanton said: “I was deeply moved and overwhelmed when I found out I was going to receive this honour – it would not be happening, and I would not be doing my work were it not for my beautiful friend Joanna Simpson who lost her life so brutally at the hands of her estranged husband.
“Today I work with and alongside many incredible colleagues, who work and volunteer for Refuge, the Joanna Simpson Foundation, and sister organisations throughout the VAWG sector who work tirelessly to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse and whose commitment inspires me every day.
“Whilst domestic abuse is predominantly perpetrated on women, I also recognise and applaud the work of Respect and others who provide much needed support to men who are experiencing abuse.
“This honour is testament to those many individuals who dedicate themselves to this cause, survivors of domestic abuse who bravely tell their story, and the family and friends who support them.
“And countless others who, through their work in criminal justice, health and social care, law, education and human resources, continue to ask the right questions, and be there for survivors when they so badly need help.
She added: “There are so many people who have been alongside me on this journey over the years, but I must thank today my incredible husband and daughters without whose support I simply couldn't do what I do, and Diana Parkes, Jo’s mother, for working so bravely together with me for much needed change.”
Andrew Scattergood, chief executive of the Royal Parks charity, has been awarded a CBE for services to heritage and charity.
Scattergood joined the Royal Parks in 2015 and oversaw the organisation’s move, in 2017, from a government agency to its new status as an independent charity.
Prior to joining the Royal Parks, Scattergood held roles at Ofcom, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Foreign Office. He worked on the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
Scattergood said: “I am unbelievably honoured to have received recognition in the New Year honours.
“But this is an award that recognises the hard work and commitment of everyone who works either directly or indirectly for the Royal Parks, including our volunteers, supporters and many partners.”
René Olivieri, chair of the National Trust, has been awarded a CBE.
Olivieri previously working in academia, publishing and higher education.
He was previously chair of Tubney Charitable Trust, the Wildlife Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund in an interim role.
OBE
Neil and Angela Dickson have been awarded OBEs in recognition of their work establishing the Brain Tumour Charity.
The couple set up the charity, originally named the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, after their daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died in 1996 aged 16.
Neil Dickson said: “Angela and I are delighted to receive OBEs in the News Year honours. We have worked tirelessly over the last 26 years to increase research and provide support services for patients and families diagnosed with this devastating disease.
“These awards are also a big thank you to the brain tumour community in the UK which has united to make such a difference.
“We still have a mountain to climb but major progress has been made since the dark days of 1996. Samantha would have been so proud that her legacy has benefited others.”
Alzheimer’s Society chief executive Kate Lee has been awarded an OBE for services to charity.
Lee said: “I’m honoured to be recognised in the New Year Honours List.
“I have been very lucky to spend my career leading amazing teams to deliver deep and meaningful impact for people who need support – including here at Alzheimer's Society where every day dedicated colleagues are providing help and hope for the 900,000 people living with dementia across the UK. This award is as much about their achievements as mine.
“Some of it has been tough but most of it has been unbelievably rewarding – this award is a lovely way to mark the success of all the incredible organisations I've worked with across a diverse and vibrant charity sector.”
RNLI chair Janet Legrand has been awarded an OBE for services to young people from her time as chair of the Children’s Society, whose chief executive congratulated her on social media.
Huge congratulations to our former @childrensociety Chair of Trustees, Janet Legrand KC, being awarded the OBE in the #NewYearHonours for services to young people. All of us on TeamTCS are rightly proud today!
— Mark Russell 🇺🇦 (he/him) (@markrusselluk) December 30, 2023
David Farnsworth, managing director of City Bridge Foundation and owner of Tower Bridge, has been awarded an OBE for services to the voluntary sector in London.
In his 10 years at the helm, Farnsworth has overseen a reorganisation of the organisation’s governance structure and the launch of a new brand bringing together its role as a bridge owner and charity funder.
Next year, he will complete a nine-year term as chairman of London Funders, the umbrella organisation which represents funders across the capital.
Before joining City Bridge Foundation, Farnsworth worked for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, heading up a programme which supported young refugees and asylum seekers, and has also worked for the Immigration Advisory Service and the Welsh Refugee Council.
Farnsworth said: “I feel very humbled to receive this honour, which is a reflection of the efforts of the many extraordinary people I’ve had the privilege of working with for the benefit of London’s communities.
“Both of my grandfathers were working class orphans from London, which makes me reflect on how lucky I am to have such an interesting life and to enjoy a role of such diversity.
“I hope in the future we can continue to work with partners for a London which retains its magic, its diversity and its energy but which makes real progress in addressing the deep inequality that still exists in the capital.”
Tony Collins, deputy chair of Hospice UK, has been awarded an OBE for services to healthcare and community.
Collins has 25 years’ experience in the hospice sector and is also chief executive of Herriot Hospice Homecare, Just ‘B’ (bereavement support) and Saint Michael’s Hospice.
“I’m delighted to receive an OBE on behalf of all the remarkable people I’ve worked with over the last three decades,” he said.
“Whether it’s hospice care, healthcare generally or community work, it’s incredibly encouraging to see these roles continually recognised in the New Year’s Honours List, and I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you.”
The British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) new chief scientific and medical officer Bryan Williams has been awarded an OBE for services to medicine. The award is in recognition of the leading role he has played as a scientific and clinical leader in the UK.
He joined the BHF in November to set the BHF’s research and medical strategy for cardiovascular research.
Before joining the BHF’s executive group, Williams had a long association with the BHF, with much of his research being funded by the charity.
Williams is also chair of Medicine at University College London, and an NHS consultant at University College London Hospitals.
He said: “I am delighted to receive this honour, which is a tribute to the many talented colleagues I have been fortunate to have worked with during my career so far. I want to thank them all, as well as my family, for their incredible support over many years.
“In this next exciting new chapter of my career, as the BHF’s first chief scientific and medical officer, I am determined to continue to help drive BHF funded research advances into new and better diagnostics and treatments to improve the outcomes of patients with, or at risk of heart and circulatory diseases.”
Diane Ruddock, external affairs manager for the National Trust in Northern Ireland, has been awarded an OBE for services to the environment, heritage and the community.
She has worked for the conservation charity in a range of roles for the past 37 years, and she plans to retire in March.
Foundations executive chair Josh MacAlister has been awarded an OBE for his services to vulnerable children.
An honour and a real surprise to be included in this New Years list! These awards go to individuals, but the work has always been a team effort. We’ve got our work cut out to make sure that the most vulnerable children get a fair chance. Looking forward keeping at it in 2024! https://t.co/G8ouc66YzS
— Josh MacAlister (@JoshMacAlister) December 30, 2023
MBE
Alice Hendy, founder and chief executive of Ripple Suicide Prevention, has been awarded an MBE for services to online safety.
In an online post, she said: “I feel quite overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Although such a huge honour for my family and I, setting up Ripple was never about backslaps or recognition.
“My charity was created in memory of my little brother, Josh, to ensure mental health support is provided to people at their most vulnerable point, and to make the internet a safer place.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has shown me the kindness, love, and empathy that has resulted in the creation of the charity, saving many lives in the process, and thank you to the kind individuals who took time out of their busy lives to nominate me.
“As far as I am concerned, this MBE is an acknowledgement of the shared effort to all fellow warriors working so hard to prevent suicide, often whilst grieving the loss of a loved one.”
Stamma vice chair Deborah Johnston has received an MBE for her work around stammering in higher education.
Johnston said: “Stammering is the most misunderstood condition, it was natural for me to advocate in higher education, which can be so transformative.
“I couldn’t have done so without the contributions of so many fantastic academics and students who stammer. And of course, the wonderful support of Stamma.
“I’m proud to serve on the board, especially when there is so much more to do.”
Josephine Segal and Vanessa Crocker, co-founders of north London-based charity Spread a Smile, have both been awarded an MBE for services to seriously and terminally ill children and their families.
Segal and Crocker started the charity in 2013 after seeing the positive impact a magician’s visit had on Segal’s then nine-year-old nephew, Aaron, during intensive cancer treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
They said: “10 years ago, we never imagined Spread a Smile would be where it is now and we are grateful to our amazing trustees, office team and entertainers who all work so hard to deliver smiles and laughter and to our generous our donors too.
“We dedicate this award to all of them as well and of course to our own families too.”
