Global gold prize for PEGS founder

A campaigner supporting thousands of parents impacted by abuse has won an international award.

Michelle John, founder of the social enterprise PEGS, was the only person in the world to be awarded gold in the Woman of the Year – Government or Non Profit category at the Stevie Awards for Women in Business 2022.

The results were announced in Las Vegas over the weekend – each winner is categorised as a gold, silver or bronze recipient based on the amount of points awarded by a panel of esteemed judges.

Michelle attracted their attention for the work she’s been undertaking to raise awareness of Child to Parent Abuse, as well as supporting impacted parents and caregivers, training professionals, and helping develop regional and national policies.

Having registered the social enterprise, which has offices in Shropshire and Derbyshire but operates across the UK, in November 2019, Michelle launched its first services the following March. The team has now helped more than 3,000 parents as well as working with statutory, voluntary and private organisations to help upskill, share knowledge and raise the profile of this little-known form of abuse.

One judge pointed out: “It’s important to remember that all of this has been achieved since launching services in March 2020, against the backdrop of a global pandemic, reduced grants and funding available for the third sector, and a generally difficult time with the economy and business world.”

Others highlighted that PEGS was an ‘excellent initiative’, named Michelle as a ‘big influencer’, called her work ‘outstanding’ and her accomplishments ‘extraordinary’. While another of the judges said the founder embodied the saying ‘be the change you want to see’.

Michelle said she was thrilled to receive the award, the first international accolade picked up by the social enterprise, adding that she wanted to thank her team, partner agencies and everyone who had supported PEGS over the last three years.

“Winning this award sees Child to Parent Abuse being highlighted on the global stage, and I’m thrilled that this potentially means more professionals being aware of CPA and conscious of how they can support families experiencing it. It also hopefully means fewer parents feel alone and isolated, because they know there are organisations out there set up to support them, and they know CPA is finally getting the recognition the issue needs.”

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Founding Director, Michelle, has been awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours for Family Support and Advocacy.

By PEGS Admin • June 15, 2026

Child to Parent Abuse organisation founder awarded MBE The founder of a social enterprise which has supported thousands of parents impacted by abusive behaviours from their children has been awarded an MBE. Michelle John, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales but now based in Shropshire, was among the names announced for the prestigious accolade in the King’s Birthday Honours List this year. In 2020, Michelle set up not-for-profit organisation PEGS with the aim of supporting parents and carers, training professionals, influencing local and national policy, and raising awareness of Child to Parent Abuse – which is thought to affect up to one in ten households in the UK. Since then, she has grown a team of experts who have trained police, social workers, teachers and many other professionals to better recognise the signs of CPA, support parents, and signpost to specialist organisations. In addition, Michelle set up a range of parent-focused initiatives including daily practitioner-led online sessions, a Facebook peer support group which now has 3,300 members, and one-to-one offerings for those at highest risk. PEGS launched a CPA Covenant for employers in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, only the fourth such covenant to be backed by the Government, and Michelle has advised everyone from the Home Office to Channel 4 and the BBC on CPA – the latter for storyline on Hollyoaks and EastEnders. Her work has seen CPA covered by journalists across television news programmes, national newspapers and magazine, and regional press and radio, and she’s received numerous awards both in the UK and internationally. Michelle, whose MBE was awarded for Family Support and Advocacy, said: “This honour is also shared with the parents who have trusted me along the way: they drive me, inspire me and I will always stand with them. “I feel proud, privileged and very grateful – and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me and PEGS along the way. There is much more to come for PEGS, and we will continue to work every day for the parents and carers who have been or continue to be impacted by CPA. “There is so much to reflect on from the journey of the last six years, and there have been many highlights and challenges along the way. I am sure there will be many more in the future – although being told I’d received an MBE will always remain a truly incredible moment that I’ll remember forever!” For more information about us, visit www.pegsupport.co.uk or search for 'PEGS' on social media!