Russell Hogarth, the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) of the NFHW was invited to this year’s Royal garden party in recognition of his community and voluntary work. Russell has been a very familiar face to all the members of the NFHW since he joined the organisation.

Russell has been associated with UCLan since 2008 and was made its Honorary Fellow in 2012 in recognition of his community and social work. He has been a community ambassador of UCLan since 2013 and supports and aids students of UCLan’s Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise. He is also the Chair of UCLan’s Creative Communities Group and is closely associated with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

Russell attended the party at Buckingham Palace with wife Dianne. Speaking of the day, Russell said: “It was both an honour and a privilege to be invited to this year’s Royal Garden Party, especially in Her Majesty’s Jubilee Year, and to be greeted by members of the Royal Family.”

Congratulating Russell, Professor Romesh Gupta OBE, chairman of the NFHW and Honorary Professor at UCLan, said: “It’s wonderful news that Russell’s community work has been recognised with an invitation to attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Russell is a Fellow and the community engagement officer (CEO) for our national forum for health and wellbeing. Throughout the covid pandemic, he has been a trusted voice in our community.

He has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and signpost people to support and much needed services. Russell is a true community leader who helps to give a voice to people who don’t often have a voice. He tells their stories and shares their experiences. Russell supports the often harder to reach in our society, giving them hope and inclusion.

His 2015 MacMillan Palgrave publication, titled Creative Education Teaching and Learning is often quoted as a pathway to inclusion and accessible education.

Russell is a philanthropist, and his fellow colleagues recognise his contribution to our society and the positive difference that he has made to members of the local community.

We congratulate Russell for his recognition and wish him all the success in coming years.”

Acknowledging  Russell’s community work, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire the Right Honourable Lord Shuttleworth, KG KCVO KStJ said,

“I’m delighted Russell has been invited to the Royal Garden party, especially in her Majesty’s Jubilee year.

Russell is the chairman of our Creative Community Group that he co-founded 10 years ago at the University of Central Lancashire.

Lord Shuttleworth

(image courtesy of Burnley Express)

The CCG, under Russell’s leadership, has gone on to achieve tremendous success and is now recognised both nationally and internationally as a model of best practice in lifelong learning and active citizenship.

The Creative Communities Group members also focus on visual and performing arts, great stories and narratives to inspire others to ‘make a difference.’

Members raise awareness of important issues and inspire others to get involved in the common good.

I think it was appropriate, that in 2020 the Creative Community Group was awarded the prestigious EU SOLIDAR Silver Rose International award in the category Building Learning Societies.

Russell is definitely a role model and community ambassador for both the University of Central Lancashire and the Creative Communities Group and I was pleased that he has also agreed on my behalf to chair the Lancashire Creative Commonwealth Communities Association.”