Helpforce Trustee recognised for services to health in King's Birthday Honours

Claire Riley, a long-standing Trustee of Helpforce, has been made Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in His Majesty the King’s 2025 Birthday Honours.  

Claire has been recognised for services to the NHS spanning 18 years.  

As well as being an influential advisor on the design and delivery of high-impact volunteering across healthcare in her Helpforce Trustee role, Claire is chief of corporate services for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB).  

Helpforce chief executive, Amerjit Chohan, said: "We are thrilled to see Claire Riley being recognised for her incredible contribution to healthcare, including her passionate championing of the impact of NHS volunteering at a regional and national level.

"We feel incredibly fortunate to have benefited from Claire's expertise, passion and dedication since she joined our Board of Trustees in 2018. Her commitment to volunteering and making a transformative difference to healthcare shines through in everything she does."  

Claire has led multi award-winning teams across NHS North East (former strategic health authority), Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and more recently as chief of corporate services at the ICB where she is also regional lead for women's health, and research and innovation.

Reacting to the news, Claire commented: "I am very lucky to work with amazing people who do amazing things every day, this recognition is very much for them and about them.   

"I love what I do, which is a reward in itself, but it’s a real privilege to be nominated and awarded this honour. The NHS is a much-loved institution and I am proud to play my part, I hope I have helped and will continue to make a difference."   

The OBE also recognises Claire's contribution to children's literacy as chair of trustees for Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books in Newcastle upon Tyne.