David Boughey, founding managing director of a volunteer social enterprise formed to sustain the local London 2012 Olympic volunteer programme named in HM The King's Birthday Honours List with an MBE.
Mr Boughey, Managing Director of EnV, was awarded the honour for services to the community in Coventry and should be presented with the award later this year.
EnV is a Community Interest Company born from the London 2012 Olympic Games legacy.
It offers award-winning services specialising in events, training, and volunteer programmes, working with event and conference providers, local authorities, destination management organisations, education, businesses, and community organisations.
Mr Boughey, who lives in Whitestone, Nuneaton, worked at the Council from 1998 until 2005, starting as a casual leisure park attendant at the Pingles Leisure Centre before moving to Nuneaton and Bedworth Leisure Trust, where he worked as casual school multi-sports coach and community youth activity leader.
He then took up a secondment at the Trust as sport development team project co-ordinator, supporting and delivering local sport development community projects.
Following that, he took on a role as a Community Athletics Coach with the County Sport Partnership, based in Coventry in February 2005.
Since then, he has been based in Coventry, working for England Athletics, Coventry University, and then set up EnV, where he has been Managing Director since 2015.
Mr Boughey attended Attleborough First School, Chetwynd Junior, and Higham Lane School before progressing to King Edward VI College, where he studied for a sport and leisure degree at Manchester Metropolitan University.
He said:
“To receive this personal recognition was a very unexpected but joyous surprise to me.
“I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to have been recommended, and I am humbled to be invited to receive such a prestigious honour.
“The honour is a testament to most of my working life in community development and volunteering, particularly the last ten years, to ensure there has been a lasting volunteer legacy in Coventry that continues to make a positive difference to the community.
“Managing our social enterprise has been a personal challenge that could not be possible without the immense support from my wife Victoria and those who have supported and provided guidance along the way.”
“For me, this is also a recognition of all the volunteers that have ensured ongoing success with EnV.
“It has been the dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment of the volunteers that have inspired and driven me. This honour is powered by those who continue to give their most valuable time to volunteer.”