CEO of Chance UK awarded an O.B.E

15 June 2009

Gracia McGrath, CEO of children's charity Chance UK, was awarded on O.B.E. in the Queen's Birthday Honours list this week.

Gracia has been Chief Executive of the children's mentoring charity Chance UK since 2001. Under her leadership, it has grown from a local project to an organisation with national influence within the Third Sector.

Gracia McGrath of Chance UK said: "I am delighted to receive this great honour. I feel that it is as much recognition of the work and achievements of Chance UK as it is mine. I have had the privilege of running one of the best children's organisations in the UK for the last eight years helping to develop it from a small local organisation into an innovative and influential national one. This has made the hard work well worthwhile as I am constantly able to view our successes, this honour being one of the biggest."

Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair and former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said:

"People set out to volunteer for the good of others, to benefit local communities or those less fortunate than themselves. Although it can be extremely satisfying, volunteering isn't about personal gain however those who dedicate their lives to benefit others and actually make a difference to local communities should be acknowledged.

"I'm absolutely thrilled that very special people such as Gracia, whose groups have been recognised by the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, have now been recognised with such prestigious individual Honours.

They've seen the need to engage with youngsters in a way not many others have and it's their individual qualities and dedication which have helped to make their groups such successes."

Gracia's commitment to early intervention work and prevention for children with high levels of needs includes becoming an advisor on the Youth Crime and Gangs working party for the Centre for Social Justice, an independent think tank putting social justice at the heart of British politics as well as serving as a trustee of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation from 2004 to 2009. Since 2003, she has also been a representative for the European Union for Mentoring and Befriending.

Chance UK has been recognised by a number of awards under Gracia's guidance including the highly prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2006. Gracia recently became a member of its Awarding committee and an Ambassador to assist in its promotion.

Chance UK provides volunteer mentors for primary-aged children with behavioural difficulties at risk of developing anti-social and criminal behaviour across the UK.

For more information, contact Gracia McGrath, CEO of Chance UK, on 020
7281 5858 ext 209 (office) / 07872 665 267 (mobile) or ceo@chanceuk.com