Cornwall local awarded in King's Honours List
A Cornwall-based community volunteer has been recognised in the King’s Honours for her outstanding contribution to heritage and charity work in Derbyshire.
Rokia Coco Khair, 55, has been awarded an MBE for services to heritage and to charity, following nearly two decades of tireless voluntary work supporting communities, young people and historic preservation.
Ms Khair began volunteering with the Derbyshire Youth Offending Team in 2006, where she played a key role on referral order panels and supported restorative justice initiatives.
Her work helped give young people opportunities to rebuild their lives while strengthening community trust.
Rokia said this to us:
"I've done quite a lot in my life. Yeah, I I love it down here. And I I love the job, and I live here as well. And I'm very lucky I get to wake up to, you know, this beautiful estate every day."
"So I love it. Yeah."
"Why is it work so important to me?"
"Well, you know, it's a passion. It's a personal passion, but I really, really believe that history is important, you know, to people, whether it's local history or whether it's global history, you know, it's the human story."
In 2013, she co-founded the Codnor Castle Heritage Trust and went on to serve as its Chair until 2022. Under her leadership, the historic remains of Codnor Castle were conserved and opened to the public, transforming the site into a valued local attraction.
The project now welcomes more than 15,000 visitors each year and has become a focal point for community engagement. Ms Khair successfully secured £200,000 in funding and recruited over 100 volunteers, ensuring the long-term preservation of the castle while creating opportunities for local people to get involved.
Her work has had a lasting impact on heritage preservation, youth justice and social inclusion, enriching countless lives and strengthening community connections across the region.
The honour recognises her dedication, leadership and commitment to making a positive difference through voluntary service.