New Year's Honours: Founder of Resolution Foundation Clive Cowdery receives knighthood

Philanthropists Cowdery and Jack Petchey honoured

Clive Cowdery, who founded the Resolution Foundation in 2005, receives a knighthood alongside Jack Petchey, for his foundation’s work in supporting young peoples’ aspirations.

Born into a working class family in the East End of London, Petchey, 90, made his fortune through various business ventures, eventually setting up the Jack Petchey Foundation in 1999. To date, he has contributed more than £100m towards grants and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25.

Chairwoman of the Health and Safety Executive Judith Hackitt, chief executive of the exams regulator Ofqual Glenys Stacey, and Heather Rabbatts, non-executive director of the Football Association, are honoured with damehoods.

The founder of a charity which provides breakfasts to thousands of schoolchildren said she wanted to use her MBE to call on the Government and school leaders to take action on the fact so many youngsters are going without the most important meal of the day.

Carmel McConnell, chief executive of Magic Breakfast, said the charity provides a free healthy breakfast to 23,500 children a day in 480 schools and it was a travesty that there are “children too hungry to learn”.

Former Lib Dem MP Ed Davey, who was Energy Secretary under the Coalition Government, is knighted along with Paul Grice, clerk and chief executive of Scottish Parliament, while Labour’s Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central and Opposition Chief Whip, receives a damehood.

Click here for the full 2016 New Year's Honours list