METRO Chief Executive awarded British Empire Medal in New Year Honours List

29th December 2012

METRO Chief Executive, Marguerite McLaughlin is awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2013 New Years Honours List for health and community services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and African people in London and the South East.

Marguerite has been METRO's Chief Executive since 2003 and has led the organisation through a decade of huge growth and change. Under her leadership, METRO has established itself as a provider of sexual health, HIV, mental health and youth services, not only in its home borough of Greenwich, but across London and the South East and into national and international projects.

METRO is now the biggest provider of direct services to LGBT people in London, and its services extend to many other communities including African people, young people and people living with HIV. METRO is also a significant third sector organisation in Kent and Medway and is leading the biggest national survey of young LGBT people across England in its groundbreaking Youth Chances project. In ten years METRO's annual income has increased to £2.5 million and it now employs 70 staff and is supported by over 100 volunteers.

Marguerite McLaughlin said:

It is very humbling to be honoured in this way and I am absolutely thrilled to have been recommended for this award. I am inspired every day by the passion, commitment and enthusiasm of METRO's service users, volunteers and staff. METRO is unique in providing the range of services that it does - services that I am proud to say, have been developed in response to the needs of the people and communities we work with and for.

The Prime Minister revived the British Empire Medal in 2011 particularly to recognise the hard work and dedication of the voluntary sector, and I am very pleased to accept the award in that spirit and in recognition of the important role the sector plays in the life of the nation, supporting those communities most in need.

ENDS

Contact: Patricia Durr, Head of Communications & PR, [email protected] 07912515397