New Year Honours List recognises social work professionals

Former social worker and the founder of the Child Migrants Trust Margaret Humphreys is among the social care professionals to be recognised in the New Year honours list.

Humphreys, who in 1987 exposed the UK’s role in deporting children as young as three to former colonies, including Australia, where many were abused, has been awarded a CBE.

She established the Child Migrants Trust in 1987 to provide a range of social work services for families affected by the child migration scheme, which ended in 1970.

A film about Humphreys’ work, Oranges and Sunshine, is due to be released in the spring.

Humphreys said: “I am pleased to accept this honour on behalf of former child migrants and their families, as well as my longstanding colleagues for their commitment and dedication over many years.


“Above all, I accept on behalf of my family, who have been with me every step of the way.”

Other social care professionals to be recognised in today’s honours list include John Dixon, who was deputy chief executive of West Sussex Council until his retirement last October. Dixon, a former president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, received an OBE for services to local government.

Dixon said he was “delighted” by the news: “It’s good for the sector, because [social work] is probably a bit under-represented compared to other sectors in the New Year’s honours list.”

Howard Cooper, director of children’s services at Wirral Council and chair of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services’ workforce policy committee, received a CBE for services to local government.

Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, was knighted.

Scottish Labour MP Anne Begg was made a dame for her services to disabled people.

Recipients of awards for their work in social care and related fields include:

Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

• Anne Begg, Labour MP for Aberdeen South

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• Howard Cooper, director of children’s services, Wirral Council

• Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge, the domestic abuse charity

• Margaret Humphreys, founder and international director, Child Migrants Trust

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):

• John Adams, general secretary of Voluntary Organisations Disability Group

• Marie Crossin, chief executive of CAUSE, Northern Ireland

• John Dixon, former executive director of adults and children and deputy chief executive, West Sussex Council

• Phyllis Dunipace, lately director of children’s services, Lambeth Council

• Kay Sheldon, commissioner, Care Quality Commission

• Moira Swann, lately corporate director of children’s services, Cumbria Council

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Elizabeth Andrews, for services to disabled children and their families

• Glennis Ann Bentley, for voluntary service to young people in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

• Martyn Bracegirdle, lately chairman of the Cheshire and Warrington Connexions Partnership

• Alice Carnduff, for voluntary service to Save the Children in Paisley, Renfrewshire

• David Courtney, foster carer, Kent Council

• Patricia Courtney, foster carer, Kent Council

• Eleanor Beryl Cryer, for services to people with learning disabilities in Slough, Berkshire

• Olwyn Ditchburn, programme director of Leamington and Warwick West Children’s Centres, Warwickshire

• Professor Joyce Goodman, professor and dean of education, health and social care, University of Winchester

• Anthony Gorham, for services to disabled people in Surrey

• Alny Mary Graham, for services to the children’s hearings system in Scotland

• Gaye Jones, foster carer, Sefton children’s services

• Peter Jones, foster carer, Sefton children’s services

• Margaret Cynthia Wilson, foster carer, Northern Ireland

Full list of the 2011 New Year’s honours

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