Charity founder’s work recognised

A CONSUMER champion who is a familiar face on British television for her business expertise has said she is “humbled” to received an honour.

Yorkshire born-and-raised Kate Hardcastle, also known as ‘The Customer Whisperer’, has been given an MBE for her services to business.

Ms Hardcastle, who has her family home in West Bretton, West Yorkshire, has been recognised throughout her career with 26 national and international awards including the public-voted Yorkshire Business Woman of the Year, and has also just received the Yorkshire Society’s award for Yorkshire Media Personality of the Year 2018.

In 2016, she was presented with a Point of Light Award from then-Prime Minister David Cameron, in recognition of her charitable work, particularly the creation of the Positive Image campaign established to support young people with a crisis in confidence.

She said: “I am humbled to receive such recognition from the Queen. I would like to thank all of my family and friends who support me in my passion for business and charitable causes and my wonderful fellow volunteers at the charities and community projects I support.”

A man who founded the national charity Christians Against Poverty, helping tens of thousands of people every year, has been awarded the CBE.

With his newfound faith and a background in the credit industry, John Kirkby, 56, started CAP in 1996 to help families in Bradford.