We were delighted to learn that Mike Frankl (1966 W) was awarded an MBE in this year's New Year's Honours list, for his charity work connected with homelessness, education for teenagers who have suffered from severe bullying or other major trauma and for work with the Jewish community in the Cambridge area.

Mike was Treasurer and Trustee of The 999 Club and Lady Florence Trust from 2012 to 2018. This charity is based in Deptford, South London and provides a day centre with support advisers, creative activities and health workers for homeless people in the Lewisham area. The way the charity worked was significantly improved during this time, so that many of its service users were able to move away from living on the streets.

Mike was also the Chair of Trustees at the Red Balloon Learner Centre, Cambridge for the nine yers leading up to 2020. The Learner Centre provides education to teenagers who have become school refusers as a result of severe bullying or some other major trauma.  The charity has a unique way of working with young people and very successfully rebuilds their self esteem and confidence, helping them to develop their own special talents. When Mike started at the charity the number of children supported was 15, they now have over 60 on the roll.

In 2009 the congregation of the Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue, Cambridge bought some land in central Cambridge and Mike became the Chair of Trustees throughout the fundraising and construction of a new synagogue which opened in 2015. Following its opening they joined the Cambridge Churches Homeless Project (CCHP) and with churches throughout Cambridge provided dinner and a sleeping space for up to 20 rough sleepers one night a week throughout the winter months. This activity stopped with the pandemic, but they are still involved with CCHP and the way homeless people in Cambridge are supported. Mike also led a project to enable the synagogue to provide accomodation for Ukrainian refugees during the summer of 2022.

We wish Mike and the charities he has supported all the best for the future.