A lifelong commitment to empowering and supporting children and young people had led to recognition for The Diana Award’s CEO Tessy Ojo in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, 2020.
Tessy has been appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE), the highest of honours, for her services to children and young people. She was presented with her CBE by The Duke of Cambridge, a supporter of The Diana Award at Windsor Castle on 9 November 2021.
“I am humbled by this honour and it was particularly poignant to receive my CBE from The Duke of Cambridge. It’s an immense privilege to work with children and young people. For the past twenty years at The Diana Award I have seen time and time again the life-changing impact we can have on young people by investing in them and empowering them to be a voice to create change.”
Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive of The Diana Award
It is most significant that this nomination has been led by young people, recipients of the Diana Award and participants of its anti-bullying and mentoring programmes who have experienced Tessy’s dedication and skills and feel passionately that she should be recognised formally.
Tessy is a humanitarian and campaigner who has gained an international reputation for advocating and nurturing change for young people. At the heart of her work is the belief that with the right support and investment, young people are the best instigators for achieving real, sustainable change in their lives and communities.
Callum Fairhurst, 23yrs, one of the young people who led on the nomination, met Tessy when he was a young boy after his brother Liam sadly died. Tessy encouraged Callum to continue his brother’s legacy.
“Tessy has had a significant impact on so many young people including me. She has always been a driving force in helping me make a difference. Her support and advice enabled me to create a charity for bereaved siblings like myself. Tessy is a role model, mentor and champion for young people globally – it’s about time she is recognised in such a distinguished way too.”
Callum Fairhurst
“Tessy’s pioneering leadership and passionate commitment to children and young people has been inspirational. This highly deserved award is especially significant as it has been led by young people who have seen first hand the impact Tessy has on so many.”
Wayne Bulpitt CBE, Chair of The Diana Award
The Diana Award benefits from the support of The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex and was founded as a lasting legacy to their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world. The charity fosters, develops and inspires positive change in the lives of young people through three key programmes which include; a mentoring programme for young people at risk, a youth-led anti-bullying ambassadors campaign, a collaborative Changemakers programme that aims to reimagine mental health support for young people from racialised communities. and a prestigious award which publicly recognises young changemakers – The Diana Award.
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