Mark Lawrie, Chief Executive of the sport for development charity StreetGames and a resident of Thatcham, Berkshire, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours List.
This prestigious recognition has been awarded for Mark’s outstanding services to education and to young people.
In addition to his role as CEO of StreetGames, Mark also serves as Chair of Trustees for the Personal Best Foundation.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mark has demonstrated steadfast commitment to transforming the lives of disadvantaged children and young people through sport and education.
His leadership has provided thousands of young people across the UK with accessible and affordable sport and physical activity opportunities in their local communities.
On receiving news of his OBE, Mark said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. It reflects the hard work and passion of the entire team at StreetGames and the Personal Best Foundation, as well as the incredible community organisations we support. Our shared goal is to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to reach their potential, no matter their background.”
Since becoming CEO of StreetGames in 2021, Mark has been instrumental in driving forward the charity’s mission to harness the power of sport to create positive change for young people living in the most disadvantaged communities.
Under his leadership, StreetGames says that it has expanded its reach and impact, supporting over 1,600 community-based organisations through initiatives such as Doorstep Sport, which brings accessible, fun, and engaging sports opportunities directly to young people.
Mark’s career in education and sport spans over 25 years, including roles in teaching, children’s services, and sports development. His expertise and vision have helped shape national policies and programmes aimed at improving the lives of young people through sport and physical activity.
John Cove, StreetGames Chair, commented: “On behalf of the StreetGames Board, I congratulate Mark on his well-deserved Honour. It is fantastic to see Mark’s work validated in this public way as the commitment, innovation and efforts he makes above and beyond often goes unseen but are central to how he drives the organisation forward to make a real difference to children and young people’s lives up and down the country.”
The New Year Honours List recognises individuals for their extraordinary contributions and dedication to public service and society. Mark’s OBE highlights the vital importance of inclusive education, community engagement, and the power of sport to change lives.
