Recognising exceptional achievement or service
Cabinet Office News Release: 23/1/06 (CAB/003-06)
"Do the Honours" - Cabinet Office call for more female nominations for Queen's top awards
A campaign aimed at getting more women who go that extra mile nominated for the Queen's honours awards was launched today by the Cabinet Office . In the 2006 New Year's Honours list just under 37% of the Honours awarded were given to women, despite the fact that they make up 51% of the population1.
The 'Do the Honours' campaign is aimed at getting more nominations from women who make a real difference, whether it is in their field of work, through their interests or pursuits or on a local level. It is also raising awareness of the fact that any member of the public can send in a nomination.
Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell said, 'Honours are there to recognise the achievements of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. It is absolutely crucial that the Honours system rewards those who really deserve it. We would also like to see more successful nominations for women in what have sometimes been considered non-female areas - such as the economy, science and sport.'
'This is why we are launching a campaign to get more women nominated. We want the Honours list to be a true reflection of the population and to reward those women who go on year after year making a difference to people's lives.
'Everyone can help make the Honours system as open and diverse as possible by making a nomination.'
There are three sectors in which women particularly need to be better represented - Economy (only 22% of awards go to women), Science & Technology (26%) and Sport (26%).
Miriam Parker received her MBE in the 2006 New Year's Honours list for services to the farming industry. She said, 'In a male dominated industry the nomination should hopefully further the profile of women in farming. I'm in a real minority in my industry. To get recognition from my peers for doing the work I love makes me incredibly proud.'
Nominating is easier than ever - forms and guidance are available on the website: www.honours.gov.uk. Anyone can nominate, so if you know a woman who has made a significant difference in her field of work or community - or who has achieved great things against all the odds - then take the time to say thanks for what she has done and 'Do the Honours'.
The Honours lists come out twice a year - at New Year and on The Queen's Official Birthday in mid-June.
1: Figures from 2001 census
Note for editors
- Nominations must be supported by two good letters of support as well as solid facts and figures to back them up.
- Nomination forms and guidance notes for making a nomination are on: www.honours.gov.uk
- For more information you can email the Ceremonial Secretariat at ceremonial@cabinetoffice.x.gsi.gov.uk or telephone 020 7276 2777
- You can write to the Ceremonial Secretariat with your nomination at: Ceremonial Secretariat (Ref: Do the Honours), 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ
Cabinet Office Press Office 70 Whitehall LONDON SW1A 2AS
Tel: 020 7276 1196 - Fax: 020 7276 0618
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Out of hours telephone 07699 113300 and ask for pager number 72133
