A LEARNING disabilities expert from Chaddesley Corbett is among the local people celebrating today after having their hard work recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

Professor Barry Carpenter has been made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to special educational needs.

"It’s a great honour to receive this recognition," said Prof Carpenter, who has three children, including an adult daughter with Down’s syndrome.

"I know as a father how much attitudes towards caring for people with learning disabilities have changed hugely in the 30 years I’ve been working in the area, and overwhelmingly for the better.

“Everybody in the sector works amazingly hard but there’s still a lot to do, particularly as the demographic trends show there will be more and more people with disabilities who need help in the community.”

The former head teacher, who has already been awarded an OBE, is chair of the advisory board of the pioneering care providers MyLife and Montreux Healthcare and an advisor to Health Education England.

The father-of-three holds honorary chairs at the Universities of Worcestershire, Limerick, Hamburg, and Flinders in Australia and is an international expert in caring for people with learning disabilities.

Oliver Harris, managing partner of Montreux Healthcare, said: "This is great news. As chair of our advisory board, Barry’s judgement and knowledge is the cornerstone of our approach.

"The unparalleled depth of his experience, as an academic, frontline worker and father is vital to our work and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honour."

During his academic career Prof Carpenter has published more than 100 academic articles and ten books on special needs, and lectures around the world on supporting people with complex needs develop a full and rich life in their community.

His 31-year-old daughter Katie, who has Down’s syndrome, lives in her own home and volunteers at two charity shops, attends college and works on a project with publisher Books Beyond Words.

A keen singer, Prof Carpenter directed a Benjamin Britten opera with local children at Chaddesley Corbett this year. In 2016 he will appear as Caiaphas in a village production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Elsewhere there was an OBE for Carolyn Pike, from Worcester.

Mrs Pike is director of legal services at the University of Birmingham and was given the honour for services to Higher Education and Legal Services.

A Birmingham Alumnus who qualified as a solicitor in 1985, Mrs Pike began her association with the University of Birmingham University as an Honorary Lecturer teaching on the LLB and LPC courses.

She was appointed director of legal services in 1998 and is responsible for a wide variety of non-contentious matters which include dealing with significant reputational issues, charity matters, governance issues, dispute resolution, managing litigation, managing external legal advisers and other strategic issues.

She is also the university’s data protection officer and child protection officer and is currently chairman of the Association of University Legal Practitioners, a member of the Information Commissioner’s HE sector panel and represents the university as director of UMAL.

One of the region’s biggest campaigners for apprenticeships and vocational training has also been awarded an MBE for his decades of work getting young people into employment.

Philip Round ran Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training as its chief executive until retiring in November and spent 36 years at the organisation, which trains people for careers like engineering.

After starting out in 1966 as an apprentice himself at Wiggin Alloys in Hereford at the age of 15, he become a trainer of new apprentices.

He joined the old Hereford Engineering Group in 1979, which later expanded and changed its name to the body it is today, and was appointed its boss in 1990.

Mr Round, 65, is now an ambassador and adviser for the group, which offers training in engineering, business administration and management as a not-for-profit company serving a customer base of more than 600 organisations.

His MBE is for services to apprenticeships and skills.

A Worcester woman instrumental in starting a charity that supports families where children are no longer raised by parents has also been awarded an MBE.

Enza Smith set up a support group in 2011 after she began, with husband Dave, to look after her grandchildren, Chloe and Bradley - and wanted to help other foster carers and adoptive parents of someone's child.

It started out as a support group in Worcester but quickly expanded with groups launched in Bromsgrove, Malvern and Kidderminster, eventually becoming national charity Kinship Carers UK.

The charity runs training for carers, an advocacy service and peer support programme for Kinship carers, as well as a youth club for children and young people aged six to 16-years-old.

The Barbourne resident, a mother of three and grandmother of four, has also been a high school teacher for over 14 years and is currently a supply teacher.

Mrs Smith is now the chief executive of the charity, which is currently supporting 110 families nationwide, and has been awarded the MBE for services to children and families.

"I was shocked when the letter came through the post - I'm not the type of person who likes to shout about us from the rooftop," the 49-year-old said.

"It is great that we have met such lovely people and made a difference to their lives.

"These children have come from a difficult situation, abuse or a bereavement, and have a relationship with grandparents that changes into their parent - which is when we step in, offering support and advice."

The carer’s support group meet at Perdiswell Young Peoples Leisure Centre every second Tuesday of each month, while the youth club meets regularly at KGV Community Centre.

The charity is always looking for donations, as it receives no government funding.

For more details or to make a donation visit kinshipcarersuk.webs.com, or email KinshipCarers.Org@mail.com.

John Henderson, aged 74, of Severn Stoke, near Worcester, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community after being named in the New Year Honours List.

Mr Henderson, who has lived in Severn Stoke for the last 45 years, is a warden at the 12th century church of St Denys’ Church, a member of the parochial church council and a former member of the parish hall committee.

Mr Henderson said he remains part of a team with a focus to restore and modernise the church which has been beset by flooding in recent years, keeping it relevant to the community in the future while retaining its medieval heritage.

The aim is to raise £150,000. The fundraising mission was launched at an event at the end of last year (2014) with the purpose of modernising the church, adding heat lamp, new toilets and a small kitchen.

He said: “We have been working for years towards keeping the church open and keeping it used for community events.”

With the work he hopes the church can be brightened up and remain relevant to the community for years to come, hosting exhibitions and community groups.

Mr Henderson said of the honour: “It was a big surprise, I can tell you. Of course one is honoured. The trouble is that you also think of what you do and think of what other people do and they go unrecognised. I feel there are others who have worked just as hard.”

The father and grandfather also said he had been supported throughout his work by his ‘tremendous’ wife of 47 years, Cara.

Other recipients of honours from our region were: Sir Roy Colin Strong, Herefordshire - Order of the Companions of Honour for services to Culture; Mrs Janet Rees, from Redditch, co-founder of Foster Care Associates and non-executive director of Core Assets Group - OBE for services to children and families; Foster carers Frederick and Violet Hanson, from Leominster, who both received MBEs for services to children and families; Darren Share, from Bromsgrove, head of parks at Birmingham City Council - MBE for services to the environment in Birmingham; Jeremy Wilding, Herefordshire - MBE for services to music through the Three Choirs Festival in Herefordshire.

British Empire Medals went to former police officer Ian Northcott, from Bromsgrove, for services to the community - particularly homeless people in the West Midlands and woodland officer with the Forestry Commission Nicholas Smith, from Eaton Bishop in Herefordshire, for services to the forestry and environmental sectors in Herefordshire and to ornithology.