Andrew Mawson, Baron Mawson
Encyclopedia
Andrew Mawson, Baron Mawson, OBE
(born 8 November 1954) is a social entrepreneur.
Andrew Mawson was brought up in Bradford
, Yorkshire. He trained for Christian ministry at the Northern Baptist College in Manchester under Principal Michael H Taylor. He gained a BA degree in theology from the Victoria University of Manchester
.
He is best known for his pioneering work at the Bromley by Bow Centre
in East London, which became the UK's first Healthy Living Centre. Mawson received an OBE in the Millennium New Year Honours List for his work there since 1984. The Bromley by Bow Centre is an incredibly successful organisation which encompasses an array of integrated social enterprises based around art, health, education and an array of practical skills.
In 1998 he co-founded the Community Action Network, a UK national charity, and remains its President.
He is a founder board member of Poplar HARCA
. In 2006 he launched the Water City initiative for East London with Richard Rogers
; this aims to revitalise the neglected waterways of East London, making use of their potential as transport links.
In February 2007, it was announced by the House of Lords Appointments Commission
that he would be made a life peer
; he sits as a crossbencher. The peerage was gazetted on 29 March 2007 as Baron Mawson, of Bromley-by-Bow
in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
. He was introduced as a peer on 30 April 2007.
A number of his projects are pursued by his company Andrew Mawson Partnerships, which takes on regeneration work in London and throughout the country.
Mawson criticises the British civil service
, local strategic partnership
s and most public consultation
as ineffective. His 2008 book The Social Entrepreneur: Making Communities Work aims to provide a practical guide to social entrepreneurship
and demonstrate, through his own experiences, that the role of the state has often stifled innovation. Despite his criticisms of government structures, the book shows what can be achieved with perseverance.
He is leading the regeneration of St Paul's Way Trust School
, a failing school in East London, with a positive vision to transform the area around it.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 8 November 1954) is a social entrepreneur.
Andrew Mawson was brought up in Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Yorkshire. He trained for Christian ministry at the Northern Baptist College in Manchester under Principal Michael H Taylor. He gained a BA degree in theology from the Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
.
He is best known for his pioneering work at the Bromley by Bow Centre
Bromley by Bow Centre
The Bromley by Bow Centre is a community centre in Bromley-by-Bow, in the East End of London. It was founded in 1984 with the aim of transforming the local community. Over the years, the Centre has grown to encompass a GP surgery, church, nursery, children's centre, community facilities and a cafe...
in East London, which became the UK's first Healthy Living Centre. Mawson received an OBE in the Millennium New Year Honours List for his work there since 1984. The Bromley by Bow Centre is an incredibly successful organisation which encompasses an array of integrated social enterprises based around art, health, education and an array of practical skills.
In 1998 he co-founded the Community Action Network, a UK national charity, and remains its President.
He is a founder board member of Poplar HARCA
Poplar HARCA
Poplar HARCA is a housing association in the East End of London, England. It is the landlord of about 8,500 homes in the Poplar area, a quarter of which have been sold leasehold; the remainder are let on assured tenancies at subsidised rent levels.The association focuses on community regeneration...
. In 2006 he launched the Water City initiative for East London with Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers
Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside CH Kt FRIBA FCSD is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs....
; this aims to revitalise the neglected waterways of East London, making use of their potential as transport links.
In February 2007, it was announced by the House of Lords Appointments Commission
House of Lords Appointments Commission
The House of Lords Appointments Commission is a non-partisan, non-statutory, independent body in the United Kingdom. It has three roles:*to recommend people for appointment as non-party-political life peers;...
that he would be made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
; he sits as a crossbencher. The peerage was gazetted on 29 March 2007 as Baron Mawson, of Bromley-by-Bow
Bromley-by-Bow
Bromley-by-Bow, historically and officially Bromley, is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is an inner-city district situated east north-east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
. He was introduced as a peer on 30 April 2007.
A number of his projects are pursued by his company Andrew Mawson Partnerships, which takes on regeneration work in London and throughout the country.
Mawson criticises the British civil service
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
, local strategic partnership
Local Strategic Partnership
Local strategic partnerships exist in nearly all local authority areas in England. They bring together representatives from the local statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors to address local problems, allocate funding, discuss strategies and initiatives...
s and most public consultation
Public consultation
Public consultation, or simply consultation, is a regulatory process by which the public's input on matters affecting them is sought. Its main goals are in improving the efficiency, transparency and public involvement in large-scale projects or laws and policies...
as ineffective. His 2008 book The Social Entrepreneur: Making Communities Work aims to provide a practical guide to social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is the work of social entrepreneurs. A social entrepreneur recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a venture to achieve social change . While a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a...
and demonstrate, through his own experiences, that the role of the state has often stifled innovation. Despite his criticisms of government structures, the book shows what can be achieved with perseverance.
He is leading the regeneration of St Paul's Way Trust School
St Paul's Way Trust School
St Paul's Way Trust School is a mixed comprehensive National Challenge Trust secondary school. It is located on St Paul's Way, a continuation of Devons Road, Bow, London....
, a failing school in East London, with a positive vision to transform the area around it.