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Queen’s Jubilee Honours list: former Crisis chief among housing figures to receive awards
Jonathan Sparkes, former chief executive of Crisis, has been awarded an OBE for services to homeless people in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Mr Sparkes has been recognised for his efforts at Crisis to tackle homelessness, including work to introduce the Homelessness Reduction Act in England, which was signed into law in 2017.
His stewardship of Crisis also saw the charity increase the level of fundraising it achieves to support homeless causes.
Matt Downie, current chief executive of Crisis, said: “I’m thrilled that Jon Sparkes has been awarded an OBE – it is hugely well deserved.
“During his time at Crisis, Jon worked tirelessly to not only improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness who Crisis supports but to see changes implemented, so that one day we can say that homelessness has been ended for good.”
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The honours list, which was published to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, includes a number of prominent people from the housing sector.
Kate Davies, chief executive of Notting Hill Genesis, was awarded a CBE for services to housing.
A CBE, which stands for Commander of the Order of the British Empire, is the third-highest accolade that can be received from the Queen, behind a knighthood or a damehood.
Valerie Vaughan-Dick, chair of Wandle, also received an MBE for services to general practice and ethnic minority communities. She is currently chief operating officer and head of paid staff at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP); chair of RCGP’s leadership team, whose work is critical to the NHS and the response to COVID-19; and co-chair of the equality, diversity and inclusion steering group.
Kate Thompson, head of extra care services at the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, was awarded an MBE for services to social care.
Joanna Richardson was another housing professional who picked up an award, with an MBE for services to rural housing.
Charles Knight of Poole Housing Partnership was awarded an MBE for his volunteering services in the local community in Poole, Dorset.
Miranda Abrey of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was awarded an OBE for her work to help survivors of domestic abuse.
There were also a number of people to pick up MBEs for services to people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.
David Eastwood, rough sleeping lead at the Greater London Authority, picked up an MBE for his services to homeless people. Mr Eastwood had the role during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked to ensure that those sleeping on the streets in the capital were housed.
Ed Walker, who set up Peterbrough-based homelessness charity Hope into Action in 2010, also received an MBE for services to homelessness. The charity now operates across the country, working with more than 50 churches to provide support to people experiencing homelessness.
Jamie Brenchley, service manager for housing needs and homelessness at Isle of Wight Council, also picked up an MBE for his work with homeless people, particularly during COVID-19. Mr Brenchley played a key part in the council’s strategy for assisting those without homes during the pandemic.
Gail Tchiprout, who provides meals to hundreds of homeless people in west London; Melody Whitley, a community champion in Glasgow; and Glenn Parkes, who helps people sleeping rough in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, also secured MBEs for services to homeless people.
Annalisa Zisman was also recognised for services to vulnerable and homeless people.
