THE boss of a charity in Colchester says she is “deeply humbled” to be named in a prestigious royal list.
Sarah Wright, 63, of Alresford, has been named in the King’s Birthday Honours list for 2026 for her services to substance abuse treatment and is being given an MBE.
Ms Wright is the chief executive officer of Open Road, a drug and alcohol recovery support service which was founded in 1990.
Open Road supports people across Essex with different programmes, criminal justice services, family support and community wellbeing initiatives.
Ms Wright says she felt surprise and shock when she received her letter in April.
"I am deeply humbled to receive this honour," she added.
“This MBE belongs to every person who has walked through our doors seeking help, every member of staff and volunteer who has given their heart to this work and every community that has stood behind us.
“We are just at the beginning of what the next 35 years can achieve."
Over the last 30 years in her role, the charity has expanded its services into multiple counties, developed community programmes, and published a strategic plan for 2025 to 2030.
As part of the strategy, Open Road wants to implement new services such as digital support, a new SOS bus for mid Essex, and focus more on inclusion and community building.
The Open Road boss has also overseen massive expansion, growing from supporting 50 people in Colchester to serving 12,000 young people and adults annually across Essex and Medway.
Ms Wright was nominated by one of the charity’s patrons, Lorna Rolfe, and trustee John Aldridge with support from colleague Anna Trudgian, the operations director for the charity.
Lorna said: “This is a richly deserved honour for a chief executive officer whose exceptional leadership over many years has restored the lives of countless individuals and that of their families.
“For Sarah Wright this is not just a job but a passion and this has now rightly been recognised.”
Trustee Nick Alston CBE, said: “On behalf of the board of trustees, I want to say how proud we are of Sarah.
“This recognition reflects not only her dedication, but also the extraordinary impact Open Road, under her leadership, has had on thousands of lives across the region."
Open Road will mark its 35th anniversary with a fundraising lunch on September 12 at Layer Marney Tower.
The event brings together supporters, partners, and local leaders to celebrate the charity's legacy and help secure the next chapter of its mission.
For tickets and more information, visit openroad.org.uk.
