OBE award for Catriona Williams

We are delighted to report that Catriona Williams of Radyr has been awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for her services to “Children in Wales”. Here is a copy of the Press Release issued by “Chlidren in Wales”:

Children in Wales’ work recognised in Queen’s Birthday honours

Children in Wales welcomes recognition of the contribution of its Chief Executive Catriona Williams who was awarded an OBE for services to disadvantaged children, young people and their carers in this year’s Queens Birthday Honours list.

Catriona has worked in the children and young people’s field all her professional life as a social worker, lecturer, researcher and manager of children’s services and was a leading member of the campaign to establish the first Children’s Commissioner for Wales. She has been a member of many Welsh Government and UK Government working groups, on the board of several charities. She was President the European Forum for Child Welfare and subsequently, a founding member and President of Eurochild which was set up to combat child poverty across Europe. She was also President of the International Forum for Child Welfare, a Vice President of the European Platform of Social NGO’s and was appointed as a Commissioner to the UK Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission in 2012.

Children in Wales was set up 20 years ago and continues to campaign for the interests of children and young people, for the implementation of the UNCRC to become a reality in Wales, and for fair shares for all children, as well as special care and attention for disabled and disadvantaged children.

Our work covers parenting, early years, disability, and children’s rights, amongst other areas, and recently we have been working to ensure that a focus is kept on children in the new Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill. In the current financial situation, Children in Wales is also working to keep children’s issues on the agenda as services and budgets are further pressured.

Catriona said, ”I am truly humbled by this honour which came totally out of the blue. I want to thank all at Children in Wales who should be sharing it with me.

“ Unfortunately there is still so much work to be done. Only this week we have had major issues such as the disappointing child poverty figures and the challenge to internet service providers to do more to prevent appalling images of child abuse on the internet. Both these issues are of critical importance to our children and we will continue to advocate on their behalf.”