The 2025 New Year Honours List announces that Cheryl Ward, Group CEO of Family Fund, has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of her contributions to social care. This distinguished honour celebrates Cheryl’s charity work and dedication to improving the lives of families raising disabled or seriously ill children through Family Fund and her work supporting other organisations to help their beneficiaries through Family Fund Business Services.
Cheryl joined Family Fund in 2008, playing a vital role in expanding the charity’s reach, growth and impact. Under Cheryl’s leadership, Family Fund has become the UK’s largest grant-making charity, providing essential financial support, information and services to families on low incomes caring for disabled or seriously ill children and young people.
In 2013, Cheryl founded Family Fund Business Services (FFBS), with a dual mission to generate unrestricted income for Family Fund and to share its expertise across the grant-making sector, and help organisations to deliver practical and timely support to their beneficiaries. Since 2013, FFBS has raised over £15 million for Family Fund, and each year has worked with its clients to support hundreds of thousands of households across the UK with essential goods and services such as white goods, furniture and vouchers for energy and essential shopping.
Mark Robson CMG, Chair of the Board of Family Fund Business Services, praised Cheryl’s achievements stating: “It’s wonderful that Cheryl’s contribution to society has been recognised in this way. Her vision and entrepreneurial spirit saw her found FFBS which is now one of the Natwest/Pioneer’s Post Top 100 Social Enterprises in the UK and continues to go from strength to strength supporting local government, housing associations and charities alike. We are all delighted for her.”
Cheryl Ward expressed her gratitude: “I am truly honoured to receive this recognition. Leading the Family Fund Group and working with such a dedicated team of colleagues, trustees, and board directors—both past and present—is an incredible privilege. This award reflects the unwavering commitment of everyone at Family Fund Group, who work tirelessly to support those facing immense challenges and strive to bring meaningful change to their lives every day.”