Jonathan Freeman, the Foundation’s CEO (Interim) has been recognised in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List with an MBE for services to charity.
Under his leadership, Jonathan has helped the Foundation to develop a powerful new strategy focussed on building strong and cohesive communities, enabling young people to reach their potential and empowering women and girls. In just the first year of Jonathan’s leadership, the Foundation distributed £1+million in grants supporting over 115,000 beneficiaries across the UK and overseas through a series of long-term impactful partnerships.
Jonathan was responsible for establishing a new university scholarship programme for Muslim students at five leading UK universities to promote social mobility and diversity, as well as a new Hardship Fund that has already distributed some £250,000 in small grants to those in the UK facing significant hardship.
Working in charities is a rare privilege and to receive this honour as well is very special.
– Jonathan Freeman
Jonathan is also the founder CEO of the CareTech Foundation, the first corporate foundation in the social care sector, which supports and champions the social care sector, care workers and those living in care. Jonathan is also Managing Director of Earlsbrook Consulting Limited, providing strategic advisory service to charities, businesses and individual philanthropists.
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.
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.
Jonathan has 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.
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.
