Dame Sheila McKechnie

Dame Sheila McKechnie (3 May 1948 – 2 January 2004) described herself as a ‘fully paid up member of the awkward squad’. This mind-set, combined with formidable research and a commitment to constructing watertight argument, meant that her campaigning powers were legendary.

She drew on these skills throughout her life – as a child, her mother remembered her ‘fizzing at injustice’ – resonating with most impact during her career at Shelter and the Consumers’ Association also known as Which?. 

Dame Sheila McKechnie DBE inducted into the Charity Hall of Fame 

The Charity Hall of Fame Class of 2026 recognises twelve outstanding individuals, past and present, whose contributions have shaped society through community action, social reform and public service. This year’s class includes several posthumous inductees whose legacies still resonate across issues such as housing justice, public health and consumer rights.

We are honoured that Dame Sheila McKechnie has been recognised in the Social Pioneer category, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire campaigners and changemakers everywhere.

Sheila McKechnie
Find out more here

More about Sheila 

Her trade union career began in 1972 when she became Assistant General Secretary of the Wallpaper Workers’ Union. Two years later she went to the Workers’ Educational Association as tutor and in 1976 joined the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs as National Health and Safety Officer. She was instrumental in turning health and safety issues from minor concerns into major issues.

This ability to make headlines came into its own when she joined Shelter as its Director in 1985. Sheila turned the organisation around to make it once again a strong and potent force in tackling homelessness and its causes. It was here that she co-founded the Foyer Federation, which has since provided holistic support to hundreds of thousands of young homeless people.

In 1995 Sheila moved on to become Director of Consumers’ Association, now Which? Her many successes include mounting campaigns on mortgage mis-selling and car prices, as well as tackling standards in the food industry. Her work on food issues led directly to the setting up of the Food Standards Agency in 2000.

She was awarded an OBE in 1995 in recognition of her services to housing and homelessness and in 2001 became a Dame of the British Empire for her work on behalf of consumers. Sheila died of cancer in January 2004 at the age of 55. Read her obituary in the Guardian here. 

In 2005, a year after Sheila’s death a statue was erected in her honour in Falkirk, Scotland. You can find out about the story behind this memorial and more about Sheila’s story here.

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