Third sector and civil society stalwarts rewarded for their selfless dedication

Scots charity workers and volunteers have been rewarded for their dedication in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list.

Among those receiving gongs Lucy Lintott received a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for voluntary services to Motor Neurone Disease Research.

Lintott is thought to be the first ever to give birth twice while living with MND.

In May of last year, the wheelchair user even managed to walk down the aisle with the help of her father.

The award rounded off what has been a packed 2022 for the tireless campaigner.

Speaking after receiving the honour she said: “I am hoping next year will be a nice boring year!” 

Iain Forbes, the former chief executive of the Scottish Mentoring Network and current chair of Includem, gets an OBE.

Forbes has been a stalwart of the Scottish business and third sector for over 40 years.  During the 80s and 90s he was a leading light in the Scottish media and then from 2008 onwards led the Scottish Mentoring Network and a variety of charitable organisations. 

Martin Dorchester, chief executive of Includem said: “Iain has been and continues to be a role model in the Third sector and this award is testimony to his ongoing commitment to making a difference to society and in particular to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential especially children and young people who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.”

Maruska Greenwood-Dalecki, until recently chief executive of LGBT Health and Wellbeing, has also been awarded an OBE.

She led the organisation for 14 years, starting on a temporary contract when it was threatened with closure after funding had run out and its staff had been made redundant.

She built it into a thriving national organisation supporting LGBT people across Scotland. Her work as an LGBT activist from the 1990s onwards, including a leading role in fighting Section 28, helped ensure that the organisation is thoroughly anchored in the LGBT community.

The organisation’s services include the National LGBT Helpline and national LGBT Age Telefriending Service, as well as  mental health and wellbeing support, community support activities, and specialist support for LGBT older people, for LGBT refugees and asylum seekers and for trans people. 

Dr Ollie Folayan, chair of Aberdeen-based social enterprise AFBE-UK Scotland, was recognised with an MBE.

AFBE-UK was founded in London in 2007. Its Scotland division was founded in 2011 and is based in Aberdeen. 

Folayan said: “I feel incredibly honoured to have been given this recognition. When my sister, Nike, and I set out in 2007 to set up the AFBE-UK, we never imagined that so many people would join us on the journey and that so many would benefit. This recognition is for everyone in the AFBE-UK family who works day in day out to make a difference in our community.

“I want to thank our partners, allies and enablers.  I especially want to thank my wife Elizabeth who was there from day one. I wouldn't have been able to do this without her support.”

And OBEs went to Usman Ali for services to equality and cohesion in Scotland and Remzije Sherifi for services to refugee integration in Glasgow.

Former board member of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Brendan Dick, received an OBE for services to Telecommunications and to Business in Scotland

William Robertson who chairs Robertson Construction was awarded a CBE, for services to the construction industry and charity.

Outwith Scotland former Acevo boss Vicky Browning is among dozens of charity sector figures recognised in the 2023 New Year Honours list.

Ian Green, the outgoing chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, was also made an OBE in recognition of his work for charities and on public health.

Rock guitarist and animal rights campaigner Brian May, who started the Save Me Trust charity in 2010 and is vice-president of the RSPCA, was knighted for services to charities as well as music.

Businessman James Reed, who chairs the board of trustees at the charity Big Give, was made a CBE, while Benjamin Lindsay, chief executive of youth charity Power the Fight, was made an OBE.

Sue May, founder of the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity, was made an MBE for services to her community while musician John Caulcutt, who has raised millions of pounds for health and development charities including the Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust and ShelterBox, was made an OBE.