MBE for head of homeless charity

THE CHIEF executive of a cross-Border charity that deals with homelessness has been awarded an MBE for her service to social justice.

Kerry Anthony (35) from Craigavon, Co Armagh, who is chief executive of Depaul Ireland, received her Member of the British Empire honour from Prince Charles at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace yesterday.

Ms Anthony was cited for her “dedication to social justice and her commitment to helping the most marginalised in society”.

She is believed to be the youngest-ever Northern Ireland recipient of an award in the British honours system.

Depaul Ireland provides accommodation and specialised services to homeless and disadvantaged people in Dublin, Belfast and Dungannon, including 303 bed spaces a night for the homeless.

The organisation is part of Depaul International, originally established in Britain in 1989 and now working in Slovakia, Ukraine and the USA, as well as in Ireland.

Speaking after the ceremony Ms Anthony said “an award like this can never be about just one person. I am very happy to be receiving this award but believe that this is a reflection of the work of everyone in Depaul Ireland.

“We would only have been noticed because of what people do every day in all our services to support the most marginalised within our society.”

Ms Anthony has been chief executive of Depaul Ireland since 2006 and the charity, as an advocate for the marginalised, has raised awareness about the nature of homelessness through ventures such as an annual exhibition at the Electric Picnic festival.

Ms Anthony is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and holds a master’s degree in social work from Glasgow University and another in voluntary sector management from Cass Business School in City University London.