We are delighted that Nicky Goulder, Founding Chief Executive of Create, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List 2025.
She receives the award in recognition of “services to Disadvantaged People and to Charity” including her tireless work to expand access to the creative arts for the most vulnerable people in our society.
Commenting on her honour, Nicky said:
“I founded Create 21 years ago in the belief that everyone should have access to the life-enhancing power of the creative arts, which offer hope, inspiration, connection and skill-building. I have combined my work at Create with a number of voluntary positions for charities that have been inspirational and deeply rewarding. It is an honour to be awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2025 in recognition of the impact that we are making. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with Create over the years for their commitment, passion and dedication and hope that this award helps to shine a light on the importance of making creativity accessible to everyone. This vision has been – and will continue to be – the driving force in my life into the future.”
Tony Cates, Chair of the Create Board of Trustees, said:
“This award is testament to the incredible impact that Nicky and her team have had on the individuals, organisations and communities that Create has worked with over 21 years. First as Trustee and now as Chair, I have had the great privilege of seeing this award-winning charity give increasing numbers of marginalised people each year access to the benefits of the creative arts. Creativity opens up new possibilities and enhances confidence and wellbeing. Everyone involved in Create’s work under Nicky’s dedicated and inspiring leadership can take pride in supporting this exceptional charity whose positive impact on society has been recognised at the highest level.”
Founded by Nicky in 2003, Create is a multi-award-winning charity empowering lives, reducing isolation and enhancing wellbeing through the creative arts. Create provides free creative experiences for those who need these most, working with professional artists and community partners to bring creativity directly to the most marginalised people in our society. It has delivered 15,500 workshops to date with more than 47,000 participants across the UK.
Create’s work has been recognised with more than 130 awards since 2012, including Charity Times Charity of the Year 2020. Most recently, in October 2024, the charity was awarded a prestigious Mental Health Award, recognising the importance and value of creativity for wellbeing.
Prior to founding Create, Nicky was Chief Executive of the Orchestra of St John’s. She has extensive experience in creative arts management, before which she was a Marketing Executive at KPMG.
Nicky has won a number of awards, including Clarins Most Dynamisante Woman of the Year 2013 (which brought with it a £30,000 prize for Create) and, most recently, Arts Innovator in the Women&Home Amazing Women Awards 2023.
Nicky is passionate about volunteering and is currently a Childline Counsellor (since 2021); and a Trustee of both Carers’ Hub Lambeth (2024) and Wales Millennium Centre (2018). She became a Climate Reality Leader in 2021. Previously, she has been a Samaritan (2002-2022); a Trustee of MYTIME Young Carers (2021-2024); a Trustee/Vice Chair of the Queen’s Nursing Institute (2009-2019); advisor to the Pro Youth Philharmonia (2017-2020); a YouthXpress leader at Southwark Cathedral, where she worked with young people aged 11-18 (2007-2017); and a Childline Counsellor (1993-1998).