Former CRASH Chief Executive Francesca Roberts Awarded OBE

CRASH is proud to share that our former Chief Executive, Francesca Roberts, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours List 2025, in recognition of her exceptional service to homelessness charities and hospices.

Francesca led CRASH from 2007 until her retirement in May 2024, significantly expanding the charity’s impact across the UK.

Under her visionary leadership:

CRASH became a powerful force uniting the UK construction industry to support homelessness charities and hospices through vital building projects.
In 2015, she spearheaded CRASH’s expansion into the hospice sector, ensuring that end-of-life care environments received the same support as homelessness services.
Over her 16+ years as CEO, she built strong partnerships with leading construction firms, securing materials, professional expertise and funding to deliver life-changing projects for those in need.

Commenting on the Honour, Francesca Roberts OBE said

“I am delighted and overwhelmed to receive this great Honour. None of us who dedicate our lives to the charitable sector do this in the expectation that we will receive an award; we do it because we believe in helping others and our society. However, to have the 32 years of service I have given to the charitable sector recognised in this way is a wonderful validation of my work and what I believe in. I hope more than anything that this Honour will help to shine a light on the great need there is to help people who are homeless and people who need hospice care within the UK. The work I undertook with CRASH charity to construct places that care for people would simply not have been possible without the outstanding support of the UK construction industry and the incredible people who work in it. I share this great Honour with every one of them, my past colleagues and Trustees, and the people they help by constructing places that care for people.”

Francesca Roberts OBE

Former Chief Executive of CRASH

This OBE is a testament to her 32 years of selfless service across the charitable sector. Francesca’s leadership helped CRASH grow into a unique and highly effective charity, built on collaboration, compassion, and construction industry expertise. Her legacy continues to shape CRASH’s work today, and we warmly congratulate her on this richly deserved recognition.