Strictly Embargoed 00.01hrs Saturday 17th June 2006
Christopher Spence, Chief Executive of Volunteering England, the national volunteer development agency, has been made a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to charity.
Christopher Spence has been a prominent figure in the voluntary and community sector for more than thirty years, ensuring that volunteering has been at the forefront of major public policy debates. These include HIV/AIDS, palliative care, patient participation in the NHS, learning disability, youth engagement, the integration of migrants and the development of the volunteering strategy for London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid.
On hearing the news Christopher Spence said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award. It recognises not only my contribution to the sector, but also all the work that many other people in Volunteering England and beyond have done to move forward the strategic development of volunteering. It reflects a new level of recognition of the value and importance of volunteering and its place in contemporary society.”
Christopher Spence was Chief Executive of the National Centre for Volunteering for six years, prior to taking up his appointment as Chief Executive of Volunteering England in April 2004, following its creation as a single, unified development agency for volunteering in England.
Dr Mike Nussbaum, Chair, Volunteering England, said:
“I am delighted at the news of Christopher’s CBE which is timely recognition of his deep belief in volunteering and its central place in democratic society. Christopher is a visionary leader who inspires others through his humanity, personal strengths and unswerving commitment to collaborative working. Volunteering England is now at the forefront of major policy debates, with volunteering winning much higher profile in government, nationally and locally. Christopher’s outstanding work in Europe as President of CEV, the European Volunteer Centre, has also enhanced international recognition of volunteering.
“This honour is a fitting legacy of the Year of the Volunteer 2005, to the success of which Christopher made such a significant contribution.”
Christopher Spence was awarded an MBE in 1992 for his services in the field of HIV/AIDS. He is currently President of CEV, the Brussels-based European Volunteer Centre, and Chair of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
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Notes to Editors
Christopher Spence will be available for interview. For more information and to arrange interviews, email sonya.roberts@volunteeringengland.org on call Sonya Roberts on 07952 128 057 - this is also the out of hours number.
- Christopher Spence was awarded an MBE in 1992 for services in the field of HIV/AIDS.
- He was Chief Executive of the National Centre for Volunteering for six years prior to taking up the appointment as CEO of Volunteering England in April 2004.
- He is currently President of CEV, the Brussels-based European Volunteer Centre, and Chair of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
- He was founding Director of London Lighthouse, the residential and support centre for people facing the challenge of HIV/AIDS (1986-1996).
- He was founding Chair of the Pan London HIV/AIDS Providers Consortium (1991-1996).
- He was a Non-Executive Director of Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust (1996-2002).
- His previous appointments include being Director of Task Force (1968- 1979), Private Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Commons (1970-1976), Director of Courses for the Urban Ministry Project and an Associate Lecturer on a London Counselling Diploma Course.
Volunteering England, the national volunteer development agency, promotes volunteering as a powerful force for change, both for those who volunteer and for the wider community. It understands the term volunteering to include formal activity undertaken through public, private and voluntary organisations as well as informal community participation.
