Member of British "Excellence"?

I was delighted to receive an MBE in this year's New Year's Honours for my work supporting people experiencing loneliness, and I dedicated it to everyone alleviating or raising awareness of loneliness in any way. Many of you inspired me in my own work, thank you. However, last December, when offered the MBE, I thought hard about what it means to accept this honour, particularly during that year, with the Black Lives Matter movement so centrally in my mind, and I shared on Linkedin some of my thoughts about the honours system in January.

Today, I add my name to those calling for the word "empire" in these honours to be changed, due to it being inappropriate in today’s world, as Poppy Jaman OBE has so eloquently stated.

If you have received an honour in the birthday honours and felt, like me, torn about accepting it; or if you were kind enough to have already congratulated me for my own honour earlier this year; and especially if you feel unable to congratulate those who receive these honours - make your voice matter - please support this campaign - so that more people can fully accept these honours in the future for positive work they have done.