Carefree Cornwall’s Founding CEO is awarded OBE for services to young people!
We are pleased to be celebrating our very own Founding CEO Mari Eggins, who has last night been announced as one of the recipients of an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list this year. This OBE will be awarded to Mari for services to young people.
Mari has supported young people as a youth worker, teacher and foster carer. Her experiences across all these areas led her to setting up Carefree Cornwall in 2005. Mari has dedicated her life to supporting and empowering young people. She is a passionate advocate, representing young people both locally and nationally.
Mari is Carefree Cornwall’s Founding CEO. She set Carefree up with 6 young people and it has since grown into a large county-wide charity- supporting 644 care-experienced young people in 2025 alone. Carefree has grown over the last 20 years into an organisation which provides youth work, careers support and participation to young people in and leaving care aged 11-25. Carefree also works in partnership with Cornwall Council to deliver a personal advisor service and housing support to care leavers as well as offering targeted support to separated children seeking asylum in Cornwall.
Carefree’s growth would not have been possible without Mari’s vision, drive and determination and we are very proud that she is being recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Jade Martin, representing Carefree, said,
“I have worked with Mari at Carefree for nearly 12 years and throughout this time Mari has displayed an unwavering determination in relation to improving the lives, rights and opportunities for young people in and leaving care. On behalf of everyone at Carefree, I would like to congratulate Mari on this achievement. It reflects the dedication and positive impact she has had in our community, and we are very pleased that she is getting the recognition she deserves.”
Mari has said about this honour,
‘I am amazed and flattered to have been given this award. However, the award is not about me as an individual but about the wonderful organisation I serve, and the fantastic care experienced young people I have worked with over so many years. I’m accepting this award, gratefully, on their behalf.’
Carefree Cornwall has been dedicated to supporting care experienced young people to have a good life since 2005 and Mari’s recognition highlights Carefree’s continued contribution to young people in and leaving care.