Princess Royal honours councillor with MBE

Councillor Sara Rowbotham at Windsor Castle

One of the deputy leaders of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Sara Rowbotham, was appointed MBE for services to young people by the Princess Royal on Tuesday 15 March.

Between 2004 and 2014, Councillor Rowbotham worked for the NHS’s Rochdale Crisis Intervention Team, which is where she played a key role in supporting the victims of child sex abuse and helping to bring the perpetrators to court.

Councillor Rowbotham has already received a special recognition award at the 2018 NHS Heroes Awards, and was made an honorary member of the Council of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in October 2018.

Councillor Rowbotham was first elected to represent North Middleton ward in 2015, following in the footsteps of her late mother Maureen Rowbotham who was a Middleton councillor for more than a decade.

Councillor Rowbotham has been deputy leader of the council since 2018 and is also the portfolio holder for climate change and sustainability.

She said: “I'm really pleased to have been invited to Windsor Castle to receive this award, I think it would have made my mum really proud. I didn't ever work alone I was part of an incredible team. I'm glad we were able to raise awareness and hopefully contribute to the future safeguarding of children and young people.”

Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Neil Emmott said: “Congratulations to Councillor Rowbotham upon receiving your Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), your years of effort, dedication, energy and sacrifice have been recognised. Congratulations on your success!”