The awards honour local leaders who have spent years helping young people and improving NHS services

From left; Mervin Cato, Anne Stoker and Judy Dewinter — From left; Mervin Cato MBE, Anne Stoker OBE and Judy Dewinter MBE

Two senior council officers involved with supporting young people in Enfield have been named on the New Years Honours List.

Enfield Council’s head of secondary inclusion support service Mervin Cato has been made an MBE for services to education, while director of children’s services transformation Anne Stoker has been made an OBE for services to social work.

In addition, Judy Dewinter, chair of the Royal Free Charity which raises funds for good causes at several North London hospitals, has been made an MBE for services to the NHS.

Mervin has spent decades helping young people stay in education and thrive. Under his leadership, permanent exclusions in Enfield’s secondary schools have fallen by 86%, now making the borough one of the best in the country for inclusion.

Mervin also created the award-winning Nexus community project, linking schools with over 30 community partners, mentors, and sports groups. Since 2018, Nexus has supported more than 41,000 students.

Anne has devoted more than 38 years to improving the lives of children and families. Her focus on early interventions have supported over 1,300 families in the past year alone, while securing £5.8million in external funding to help expand the council’s family hubs and youth services. Anne has been at the helm of pioneering initiatives in Enfield that have directly reduced the number of children on protection plans and entering care.

Reacting to his MBE, Mervin said: “First and foremost I thank God for this award. This honour is a profound testament to the collective effort of our incredible schools, community partners, and my dedicated team.

“While I am deeply grateful, it is the success of every young person we have supported together that is the true award; this MBE is for every child in Enfield who has been given a second chance and a brighter future.”

Commenting on her OBE, Anne said: “I am proud and honoured to be awarded OBE for services to Enfield’s children and families. Our focus is very clear – to ensure the best outcomes for families who come to us and to drive positive change to make a real and measurable difference.”

Council leader Ergin Erbil added: “These honours reflect Mervin’s and Anne’s tireless work with children and families in Enfield. Supporting families, children and young people and giving them the opportunity to thrive is a top priority for this council. Their impact will be felt for generations and we thank them for their years of service.”

Meanwhile Judy said she was “honoured and humbled” to be made an MBE. She was recognised for services to the NHS and has had a long association with both Royal Free Charity and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. She was appointed chair of the charity in 2019, and prior to that had been lead governor of Royal Free London since 2016.

At the age of 33, Judy was diagnosed with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, and given only 18 months to live. Drawing on her background in finance, she dedicated her life to improving treatment and care for patients. She chaired the board of Myeloma UK for 13 years, then became its first president, a position she still holds.

Royal Free Charity provides support to the Royal Free London in a range of areas and under Judy’s leadership it has delivered a £62m project to create the Pears Building, a bespoke home for the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, and provided seed funding for a new NHS clinical research facility, now attracting millions in external investment for pioneering drug trials.

The charity also recently acquired the UK’s first total-body PET-CT scanner, helping patients receive quicker diagnoses and access to new clinical trials, and raised £2m to fund a second surgical robot for the Royal Free Hospital, improving precision and recovery for patients.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Judy also led an emergency appeal that raised £2.2m in just a few months, to support Royal Free London staff and patients, funding rest spaces, psychological support, and iPads for isolated patients.

Judy will continue to devote her expertise and energy as the charity prepares to launch a £50m fundraising campaign to build a new cancer centre at Royal Free Hospital in Camden.

Reacting to her MBE, she said: “I’m honoured and humbled to receive this award. Being a patient has shaped everything I do. I understand the uncertainty that comes with finding out you have a serious illness; my myeloma diagnosis changed my life, and I’ve spent three decades navigating the NHS with an incurable cancer.

“I believe in using that experience to help others who find themselves on this daunting journey. My motivation has always been simple: to help make the experience better and more hopeful for the next person coming through the door.

“It’s heartening to be recognised for the impact I’ve had on the NHS. I couldn’t have done it without the fantastic teams I work with at the Royal Free Charity and Myeloma UK.”

Jon Spiers, chief executive of the Royal Free Charity, added: “Judy’s leadership is grounded in an unwavering focus on patients and deep respect for NHS staff. She combines personal insight as a long-term patient with financial and strategic rigour, ensuring charitable investment is directed where it delivers the greatest benefit for patients and those who care for them.

“This recognition reflects both the scale of her contribution and the values that underpin everything she does.”

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