Former Hertfordshire DCS awarded CBE in New Year Honours list
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, January 4, 2022
The former director of children’s services (DCS) at Hertfordshire County Council has been recognised in this year’s New Year Honours list.
Jenny Coles, who was president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) in 2020/21, has been awarded a CBE for services to children’s social care.
Coles, who is chair of trustees at What Works for Children’s Social Care, retired from her role at Hertfordshire at the end of August last year after more than a decade in the role.
She also acts as a trustee of children’s charity Coram alongside chief executive of Bromley Council Adesola Olumida who has been awarded a CBE for services to children’s welfare.
Coram chief executive Carol Homden congratulated the pair on Twitter, writing: “Congratulations to Coram trustees Jenny Coles, former DCS at Hertfordshire County Council, now chair of What Works For Children’s Social Care, and Ade Adetosoye, chief executive at Bromley Council for their awards of CBE in the New Year Honours in recognition of their services to children. Bravo!”
Elsewhere in social care, Pretty Nkiwane, social care and services manager at Hertfordshire children’s services, has been awarded an MBE for services to children’s social care during Covid-19 and Seamus Gaynor company secretary at Birmingham Children’s Trust has been handed the same honour for services to children’s services and education.
Foster carers Paul Creenman, from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and Carol and Derek Moody from Kent have all been awarded MBEs.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance (EYA) has been awarded an OBE for services to education.
He said: “I am honoured and humbled to have been included on this year's New Year Honours list.
"Having been lucky enough to spend nearly two decades championing the early years, I can say without hesitation that I have never been prouder to be part of this exceptional sector.
"I know first-hand that the dedication, professionalism and commitment of those working in the early years is second to none – and so I am just grateful to have the opportunity to continue doing all I can to ensure that our fantastic workforce gets the recognition that they deserve for the incredible work they do every day."
Donna Molloy, director of policy and practice at the Early Intervention Foundation, has been awarded an OBE for services to vulnerable children and young people.
Professionals supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have also been recognised with Michael Robinson, chief executive of Prior’s Court in Thatcham, Somerset, awarded an OBE for services to children and young people with autism.
Angela Holdsworth, chief executive of Lancashire’s Sea View Trust, which supports children with SEND, has been awarded an MBE along with Michelle Willett, chief executive of Oxfordshire’s Gallery Trust.
Accolades have also been received across the youth sector with Amanda Naylor, chief executive of Manchester Youth Zone, being awarded an OBE for services to vulnerable children and young people.
Victoria Hornby, chief executive of charity Mental Health Innovations, has been recognised with an OBE for her services to the charitable sector in response to Covid-19 including overseeing the Shout 85258 text service which has supported more than 800,000 young people suffering with poor mental health during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Martin Coles, chief executive of the Sea Cadets, has been awarded a CBE and Graeme Hamiliton, deputy UK commissioner of the Scouts has been handed an MBE.
Janet Wallsgrove, director of Parc Young Offender Institute, has been awarded an OBE for services to the prison service.
A number of young campaigners and fundraisers have also been honoured including 12-year-old Max Woosey who camped out in a tent for 21 months to raise funds for a Devon hospice and 11-year-old Tobias Weller, who has cerebral palsy and autism and completed a series of challenges including walking two marathons to raise funds for charity during the pandemic.
Both boys have been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).
A full list of recipients of New Year’s Honours 2022 is available here.
