Jonathan Freeman, founder CEO of the CareTech Foundation, the first corporate foundation in the social care sector, has been awarded an MBE for his services to charity in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
Under his leadership since its founding three years ago, the Foundation has committed over £2.5M in grants to long-term partnerships to drive systemic vital change in the care sector, including:
- £1million partnership with the British Asian Trust to deliver a step change in mental health and wellbeing provision in Pakistan where mental health problems affect 1 in 4 people
- £1million partnership with Barnardo’s to develop a ground-breaking digital resource to support at least 1000 young people per year leaving care
- The development of the newly-completed ToddlerLab at Birkbeck University of London that uses cutting edge technologies for early age autism research
- Establishing a ground-breaking partnership with EY Foundation to develop a powerful new ‘care to employment’ programme for care-experienced young people
Working in charities is a rare privilege and to receive this honour as well is very special.
– Jonathan Freeman
Jonathan has also been a driving force of the cross-sector Championing Social Care initiative, of which he is Vice-Chair. Championing Social Care aims to shine a light on the incredible value of social care and those who live and work within it. This was especially evident during its #SparkleforSocialCare social media campaign, which aimed to build awareness of the incredible efforts of care workers during the COVID -19 pandemic this year. The initiative also delivers the Care Sector Fundraising Ball that has raised over £350,000 in its first two years for care-related charities including the Care Workers Charity and Alzheimer’s Society.
What is an MBE?
The honours system recognises people who have made achievements in public life and
committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.
They’ll usually have made life better for other people or be outstanding at what they do.
An MBE is an order of the British Empire award. It stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire. It is awarded to someone for making a positive impact in their line of work.
Other leadership positions within the charity sector include his work as the first CEO of the COSARAF Foundation, where he has lead in the distribution of £1million in grants to various programmes in the UK and overseas that focus on young people, women and girls, and building strong communities. Jonathan developed a ground-breaking university scholarship programme for Muslim students to promote social mobility and diversity, as well as significant programmes in Pakistan and Kenya.
Jonathan is also involved in a number of voluntary leadership positions across leading care sector and charity organisations. This includes his work as a trustee of the Field Lane Foundation, which provides care and support for a diverse range of service users, including adults with learning disabilities and vulnerable families. The work of the Field Lane Foundation is particularly important to Jonathan as many of its services are based near Jonathan’s home in Surrey.
Jonathan also serves as a Governor (trustee) of The Legal Education Foundation, and sits on various advisory committees in the charitable and public sector, such as the Advisory Council of the Patchwork Foundation, the Association of Charitable Foundation’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group and The Scouts Association‘s Inclusivity Advisory Group.
Following his career in the Senior Civil Service, Jonathan started his career in the charity sector by serving as Managing Director of HRH The Prince of Wales’ Mosaic initiative, to create opportunities for young people of all backgrounds growing up in our most disadvantaged communities, delivering mentoring programmes in secondary and primary schools and for young ex-offenders across the UK. Jonathan oversaw Mosaic’s transition from Business in the Community to The Prince’s Trust.
Jonathan was made a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) in July 2020. Jonathan received CEO Monthly’s CEO of the Year 2020 – UK award, The Muslim News Awards for Excellence 2016 Award for Championing a Muslim Cause, the Naz Legacy Foundation Certificate of Recognition for his contribution to education, presented by the then Secretary of State for Education, and was selected for the Cambridge University Senior Faith Leadership Programme.