Rebecca Tarran, Deputy Lieutenant for Rochdale, has spoken about the importance of community recognition, voluntary service, and promoting the many positive contributions being made across Rochdale and Greater Manchester.
A Deputy Lieutenant supports the Lord-Lieutenant, who is the official representative of His Majesty The King within each county. In Greater Manchester, the Lord-Lieutenant oversees ten boroughs and is supported by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and a team of Deputy Lieutenants. Rebecca Tarran is one of four Deputy Lieutenants serving Rochdale.
The role involves representing the Lord-Lieutenant and the Royal Family at official events, remembrance services, citizenship ceremonies, charity visits, and community celebrations. Deputy Lieutenants also help identify individuals, organisations, and businesses that may deserve recognition through national honours or royal awards.
Rebecca described the role as a great privilege and spoke proudly about the people and organisations working across Rochdale. She highlighted that many individuals and volunteer groups carry out exceptional work which often goes unnoticed and deserves wider recognition.
The work of the Lieutenancy includes supporting nominations for honours such as MBEs, OBEs and British Empire Medals, as well as recognising organisations through awards including The King’s Award for Voluntary Service and The King’s Award for Enterprise. Deputy Lieutenants also attend citizenship ceremonies to welcome new citizens to the borough and the United Kingdom.
Rebecca explained that the role is entirely voluntary and carried out alongside her professional career in education. As a long-serving teacher and community advocate, she believes her experience working with young people has helped strengthen her communication and leadership skills within the role.
Her appointment followed years of involvement in remembrance education, community projects, charity work, and partnerships with organisations including the Royal British Legion and Springhill Hospice. Through her school’s nationally recognised remembrance work, she developed strong links with the Lieutenancy, eventually leading to her appointment after a formal process involving vetting and approval.
One of the areas Rebecca is particularly passionate about is increasing awareness of the honours nomination process. She explained that many people assume honours are only awarded to celebrities or public figures, when in reality anyone can nominate someone making a genuine difference within their community.
She expressed concern that Greater Manchester receives fewer personal honours nominations than many other parts of the country, despite the large number of deserving individuals across the region. Rebecca believes this is largely due to a lack of awareness about how accessible the process is.
As part of her work in education, Rebecca has helped introduce programmes within schools to educate young people about honours, volunteering, leadership, and civic responsibility. She also helped establish the first Lord-Lieutenant’s Youth Committee in the country, giving secondary school pupils an opportunity to participate in leadership discussions and community recognition initiatives.
The committee encouraged students to nominate inspiring individuals from their schools and communities, while also learning about the role of the Lieutenancy and the importance of volunteering. Rebecca described young people as powerful communicators who can help spread awareness and encourage greater community involvement.
She also reflected on her involvement in assessing community organisations for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Rebecca described the process as inspiring and emotionally rewarding, highlighting the dedication and commitment shown by volunteers working tirelessly to support local people.
Particular praise was given to organisations across Rochdale that continue to strengthen community cohesion, support vulnerable people, provide educational opportunities, and promote inclusion and wellbeing. Rebecca said that recognising such work at regional and national level helps raise profiles, attract support, and encourage further investment into local communities.
She also emphasised the importance of changing perceptions of Rochdale by highlighting the borough’s positive achievements, volunteer networks, and community spirit. In her view, Rochdale is home to many remarkable people whose contributions deserve to be celebrated more widely.
Rebecca’s message to anyone wanting to make a difference in their community was simple: get involved, volunteer, and contribute where possible. She believes even small acts of service can have a major impact on the lives of others while also creating a strong sense of pride and fulfilment.
Looking ahead, Rebecca hopes to continue encouraging more honours nominations, supporting local organisations, and ensuring Rochdale receives greater national recognition for the outstanding work taking place across the borough every day.
