ChildLine founder Esther Rantzen and Dianne Thompson, former CEO of the National Lottery administrator Camelot, were both made dames in the latest New Year Honours list.

A number of well-known charity figures were recognised for their contributions to their causes or to the wider sector.  Among those knighted was David Verey, chair of the Art Fund.

Fiona Woolf, who in her capacity as Lord Mayor of London last year launched a Charity Leadership Programme which aimed to equip more people to become charity chairs, also became a dame.

Several high-profile sector chief executives were awarded CBEs: among them David Emerson, from the Association of Charitable Foundations; Peter Holbrook of Social Enterprise UK; Gillian Guy from Citizens Advice; Amanda Tincknell from the Cranfield Trust, and Diane Lees, director general of Imperial War Museums.

Further CBEs went to Shaks Ghosh, the former Crisis and Private Equity Foundation chief executive; to Alan Davey, the outgoing CEO of Arts Council England, and I Can’s Virginia Beardshaw.

Alice Maynard, who recently stepped down as chair of Scope after six years, also became a CBE, as did Rodney Green, chair of St John Ambulance.

Rob Owen, CEO of Charity Award-winning St Giles Trust, became an OBE, as did Barbara Gelb, chief executive of Together for Short Lives and Jerome Church, general secretary of the armed forces charity Blesma.

Betty McBride, who retired last year after serving 14 years heading up communications at the British Heart Foundation, was awarded an MBE.