An Aberfoyle woman has been awarded an MBE in the recently announced King’s Honours List.
Dr Margaret Wright, 64, has been honoured for services to the Third Sector in Scotland.
Her work as an interim CEO in difficult circumstances is said to have saved many charitable and community organisations from closing and thus had a huge impact on the communities that they serve.
Despite being raised in an area of deprivation in Glasgow, she worked hard to gain qualifications in nursing, going on to hold a range of health care roles. And for the last four years she has used this experience to undertake interim CEO roles to assist troubled third sector organisations.
This has resulted in her place at the forefront of this new and innovative area of work with organisations that provide placements for medical students.
Her impact has driven change in the way medical students are trained and their understanding of social prescribing, causing an improvement in services to those that need it most.
A spokesperson for the Honours List outlined the reasons given for the award, saying: “The thread running through her career has been caring for others and making a difference in people’s lives, inspired by her background and entrenched in the aim to improve lives for those from similar backgrounds.
“She is involved in a number of volunteering roles, with organisations such as Cancer Support Scotland; ACOSVO, trustee & chair; CRUSE Scotland; Xchange Scotland; and Emmaus Scotland, where she donated her energy and expertise to help govern voluntary organisations by taking on important board roles.
“Through these roles, she has had an impact on good governance in the sector by sharing her support, learning and experience across the many boards she works with, both as a board member and as a support for boards in difficult times.
“She has also volunteered in her local community and with wider projects such as time on the front line with Open Doors Trust in Glasgow as a Street Volunteer.
“She grew, developed, and supported each of the projects and organisations she worked with.”
Now in her final year of studying for a doctorate in business administration, she is said to be again adding to knowledge and practice on good governance which has an impact on the community sector across the country.
