Directors of children’s services among sector leaders recognised in New Year Honours

Victoria Schofield, director for children’s social care at Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council, has been awarded an MBE (Member of Order of the British Empire) for services to children and young people.

Schofield joined the council in 2018, when its children’s services were rated as "inadequate" by Ofsted. The services secured a "good" rating in 2021.

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Schofield said: “This is definitely a special moment and I am very grateful to have been recognised.

“I consider myself very lucky to have a job that can make such a positive difference to the lives of children, young people and their families, which in itself is a great reward.

“I am very proud to be part of a great team of practitioners, colleagues and partners here in Wakefield, and in my previous roles, which enables us to achieve the best outcomes for the children we support.”

Meanwhile, Jacqueline Old, former director of children’s services at North Tyneside Council, who will receive a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to the community.

Under Old’s leadership, the council received praise from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission for its approach to improving the lives of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Sarah Johal, strategic leader on national adoption, has also been awarded an MBE for her services to adoption and fostering.

Writing on Twitter Johal said: “Delighted to have been awarded an MBE in the #NYHonours for services to fostering and adoption. Pleased to receive this in recognition of all the amazing work of colleagues who work tirelessly to help vulnerable children.”

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) congratulated the trio on Twitter, writing: “Really pleased to see some familiar names and ADCS members recognised in the new years honours list including @sarahjohal1 Jacqueline Old and Victoria Schofield. Congratulations all.”

Charity leaders are also among those recognised.

Adam Boddison, former chief executive of Nasen has been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for services to children and young people with special educational needs.

Boddison, who was chief executive for almost six years, led Nasen’s work in the SEND sector and transformed the organisation before stepping down in 2021.

Lucy Wolcott Maguire, founder and chief executive of Nucleo, has also been awarded an MBE for her contributions to the lives of children and young people through the charity’s “music for social action” project, which offers music based opportunities to young people in North Kensington.

Additional accolades were given to sector leaders such as Alexander Hore-Ruthven, chair of Children in Need, who received an MBE.

Meanwhile, awards for child protection went to professionals investigating child sexual abuse and supporting victims.

John O’Brien, secretary for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, received a CBE for services to child protection.

Fiona Ellis, chief executive of Survivors in Transition, has been awarded an OBE for her contributions to services for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Professionals working in social work, teachers, and fundraisers are also among those recognised.

The list includes Yanina Beavers, a youth worker with more than thirty years’ service, who has been awarded an MBE for services to the community in Blackpool, and young campaigner Elliott Lancaster, who received an MBE for services to youth empowerment and sustainability.

Lancaster, a PhD student at Keele, has campaigned extensively for environmental and social causes, and created an app designed to help councils reduce waste.

Shane Ryan, founder and chair of the Westminster Young Foundation and chair of Grenfell Young People's Fund was handed an MBE for services to disadvantaged young people and to charity.

Kim James, head of school improvement and learning at Oxfordshire County Council was awarded an MBE for services to education.

James, who has worked within multiple schools and councils in leadership roles, led the county council’s Covid-19 response within the education sector.

She has also led local authority work to support pupils with parents in the armed forces.

James said: “I am deeply moved and humbled to be recognised in this way.

“I accept this honour on behalf of everyone who works in education; teaching assistants, school office staff, teachers, seniors leaders, heads and school governors.”

Other recipients, including young people, are:

• Paula Hudgell, a foster carer at Kent County Council who received an OBE for services to children.

• Alison Wilson, deputy director of the vulnerable children unit at the Department for Education, who was also awarded an OBE for public service.

• Dara McAnulty, aged 18, has been awarded a BEM (British Empire Medal) for his environmental work and help for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

• Creator of sustainability project Utter Rubbish, Elliott Lancaster, aged 25, has been awarded an MBE  for services to youth empowerment and sustainability.

• Scout Leader and former chair of trustees for the organisations, Kieron Moir, 29, has been given an MBE for services to young people.

• Bethan Stimpson, 27, has received a BEM for services to young people for her work as head of the Commonwealth Games legacy project.

• Johnny Nelson, a boxer from Derbyshire, has been awarded an MBE for services to both boxing and to young people for his work mentoring young boxers in south Yorkshire, including those with involvement with the youth justice system.

• Fiona Spargo-Mabbs, director of the Daniel Spargo-Maggs Foundation, set up following the death of her 16-year-old son after taking MDMA at a rave in London, has been awarded an MBE for services to young people.

To see the full New Year’s Honours List click here.