MBE for Tameside SEND professional

The founder of a specialist college has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for a lifetime of work alongside youngsters with special educational needs.

Wendy Mackie, the Managing Director and safeguarding lead of Stalybridge-based Works4U, mentors 16 to 24-year-olds with SEND and younger teenagers who have struggled with life in mainstream education. 

She has worked in the sector since leaving college 35 years ago and now concentrates on helping young people gain qualifications and life skills. 

“Everyone has something to give, regardless of disability or barrier or exclusion. That’s what my drive has been all the way through my career, so that everybody is given a chance and nobody is overlooked. 

“I like seeing people succeed and I like seeing them happy in what they’re doing.” 

The 52-year-old wrestled with keeping the news secret after multiple people nominated her for a gong. 

“I found out a couple of months ago, but you’re not allowed to disclose anything. I managed to keep it tight-lipped, so my family had a nice Christmas present.” 

Wendy doesn’t know when she’ll be awarded her MBE or which member of the royal family will present it, but she expects it will be at Buckingham Palace in the summer and hopes to mingle with famous faces. 

“I’d love to be introduced to Sarah Lancashire,” she says of the Oldham-raised actor who is now a CBE. “I’m not too sure about Gareth Southgate, though. Maybe, maybe not, but it’ll be interesting to see who’s there and what’s going on.”