We are incredibly proud to share that our Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Wright, has been named in the King’s Honours List and awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Charity. It is an honour that belongs not just to Sarah, but to everyone who has ever been part of the Open Road story.
For 35 years, Open Road has stood beside people at some of the most difficult points in their lives. People in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Families trying to hold themselves together. Young people who needed someone to believe in them. The work has never been simple, and it has never stood still.
A Legacy Built Person by Person
Open Road was founded in 1990 with a conviction that still drives everything we do: that every person, regardless of what they are going through, has the capacity to change and to thrive. Over 35 years that conviction has translated into thousands of individual journeys, people we have had the privilege to support as they rebuilt their lives, repaired relationships, re-entered the workforce and found their way back to themselves. It has meant late nights on SOS Buses, quiet conversations in recovery centres, innovative programmes in prisons, and families who finally found someone willing to listen.
Sarah has been a central part of shaping what Open Road has become, leading the charity through a period of significant expansion, navigating the disruptions of the pandemic, and maintaining an unwavering focus on the people we support above all else. This MBE is, in no small way, a reflection of that dedication.
Commenting on the news, Open Road Patron, Lorna Rolfe DL said “This is a richly deserved honour for a Chief Executive Officer whose exceptional leadership over many years has restored the lives of countless individuals and that of their families. For Sarah Wright this is not just a job but a passion and this has now rightly been recognised.”
Looking Forward: Our Plan for 2025–2030
Earlier this year we published our Strategic Plan for 2025–2030 — and it is, in every sense, a declaration of intent. We want to reach more people, in more places, with better support than ever before.
That means expanding our digital offer so that support is accessible wherever someone is. It means launching a new SOS Bus for Mid Essex to meet growing community need. It means championing the voices of people with lived experience in everything we design and deliver. And it means building the partnerships with commissioners, community groups, local businesses, and dedicated supporters that make sustainable, lasting change possible.
Open Road Trustee Chair, Nick Alston DL, also added “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to say how proud we are of Sarah. This recognition reflects not only her dedication, but also the extraordinary impact Open Road, under her leadership, has had on thousands of lives across the region.”
Celebrating 35 Years This September
We will be marking this milestone with a fundraising anniversary lunch on 12 September 2026, set against the extraordinary backdrop of Layer Marney Tower, one of Essex’s most iconic Tudor landmarks, right on our doorstep in Colchester.
It will be an afternoon to celebrate the people who have made Open Road what it is: our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and most importantly the people in recovery who remind us every day why this work matters. The funds raised will go directly towards our work in the community. To Sarah, and to every single person who has been part of this journey, thank you. Here’s to the next chapter.
