Shortly before Christmas I was sitting at my desk when I was handed an official looking letter addressed from the Cabinet Office ....my first response ...'oh no surely I don't owe that much tax!' but on closer inspection it was the official letter a person gets when they are to be awarded an Honour in the New Years Honours List. Crikey!

I am delighted to share the news with you that I have been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to Unemployed People and the Voluntary Sector.

I am bursting with excitement to be recognized and rewarded for a lifetime commitment to carrying out your passion of Improving People's Lives and it's both very posh and humbling. I also felt that by accepting this award that I was accepting it on behalf of not only my family but also on behalf of all of you - the A4e staff around the globe, whose passion and commitment is reflected in the award - thank you all.

So, not a letter from the Taxman - an Honour that is humbling and makes me enormously grateful for the wonderful people that I know and the wonderful things we have done together.

 Happy New Year

Emma