Beacon Awards Winners Announced

At the 9th Beacon Awards for Philanthropy held in London tonight, some of the most inspirational philanthropists across the UK have been awarded Beacon Fellowships.

Hosted by Kate Adie, the biennial Beacon Awards celebrate the extraordinary and transformational achievements of individuals and families who have, each in their own various ways, brought about lasting social change through their conviction, their determination and their generosity. The awards celebrate their exploits with the hope of inspiring others to want to follow suit.

They highlight key trends in philanthropic giving and pioneering developments, including the growing trend for donations of money together with time, expertise and social capital to support initiatives all around the UK.

The awards are supported by J.P. Morgan Private Bank, the City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust and Pears Foundation.

Collectively, the 17 Beacon Fellows have donated over £300million to philanthropic causes, across a mix of local and global organisations, large institutions and grassroots charities.

The award winners have impacted hundreds of thousands of lives, many are focussing on helping young people including creating state of the art youth clubs, building support networks to prevent children being put into care, helping improve social mobility, confidence and self-esteem. Others have created powerful partnerships between the charity sector and the business world and between philanthropists and local authorities.

Gay Huey Evans, Chair of the Beacon Awards says: “The 2015 Beacon Award winners are exceptional people who have given their time, expertise and financial resources to help people and communities prosper in difficult times. Philanthropy plays a vital role in providing resources to many organisations that keep our communities strong and the Beacon Award winners are outstanding examples of individuals whose giving is having a lasting impact on people’s lives. I know that the Beacon Award winners will inspire others to give and I look forward to sharing the lessons that can be learned from the inspirational example they set.”

Tracey Reddings, MD of J.P. Morgan Private Bank said: “Our philanthropic work with clients over more than 50 years has taught us that giving, done well, can enrich the lives of donors as well as recipients, and establish a legacy of family giving that lasts generations. We congratulate the Beacon Fellows for their inspiring work and achievements and look forward to the opportunities that we all have to learn from their example.”

David Farnsworth, Chief Grants Officer of the City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust, which sponsors the Beacon Award for City Philanthropy, said:  “Our winners, David and Claudia Harding, are real game-changers.  Their creative approach to giving means that significant sums are being used to tackle a wide range of issues – from the Science Museum’s new maths gallery promoting the way maths has shaped the world, to using data to defy disease.

Full list of winners

Honorary Beacon Fellowship

• Trevor Pears CMG

Beacon Award for Philanthropy

• Jamie Carragher
• Lord and Lady Harris DBE DL
• Bill Holroyd CBE DL
• Sir Peter Lampl OBE
• Jack Petchey CBE
• Sir Peter Vardy DL and Lady Margaret Vardy
• Sir Ian Wood CBE and Lady Helen Wood

Beacon Award for Cultural Philanthropy

• Jonathan Moulds CBE

Beacon Award for Impact Investment

• Suzanne Biegel

Beacon Award for an Outstanding Partnership Between a Philanthropist and a Charity

• Graham Clempson and Pilotlight

Beacon Award for City Philanthropy

• David and Claudia Harding

Beacon Trailblazer Award

• Ben Drew aka Plan B