Health campaigner and school volunteer in Brent named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Patrick Vernon is awarded an OBE and Manju Nagji a MBE for their tireless work

A campaigner who has spent almost half his life tackling health inequalities in black and minority ethnic communities has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Patrick Vernon, Fair Share Brent panel member and former director of the Brent Health Action Zone, has been awarded an OBE for his health work.

Fair Share Brent is a Big Lottery Fund programme that redistributes lottery money into areas of high deprivation including the Church End and Roundwood wards in Harlesden.

Mr Vernon, 51, has spent 24 years working and campaigning in health and social care, particularly in Brent.

Between 1999 to 2003, he was the director of the Brent Health Action Zone, which was part of NHS Brent (Primary Care Trust).

He was also chief executive of the North West London Community Foundation (now merged with the London Community Foundation) between 2007 to 2009.

In 2010, a community space in the newly built Chalkhill Community Centre in Wembley, was named ‘Vernon Hall’ in recognition of his commitment to better health outcomes for local people.

Mr Vernon said: “I am honoured that my peers have acknowledged the work that I have done over the years, especially in Brent, in tackling health inequalities.

“I take great pride in engaging and empowering communities. My passion has always been to help local people in Brent realise their vision of better health and to have a healthy living centre, which led to the creation of the Chalkhill Community Centre.”

Manju Nagji a volunteer at Roe Green Primary School in Princes Avenue, Kingsbury, has been awarded an MBE for services to education.