The winner of the prestigious 2005/6 Beacon Prize for Wales was today announced as Newport community heroine, Kerryanne Jacobsen Okezie.

Kerryanne receives the honour in recognition of her commitment to family learning in her local community in South Wales. In 2000, she founded the extraordinary Maesglas Family Learning Association, which has provided a much needed grass-roots community regeneration plan. The Association has assisted hundreds of local people to access education and learning and has attracted much attention, standing as an inspiring example of social empowerment and re-inclusion.

Maesglas is a priority region in the 'Communities First' programme, a long-term strategy established by the Welsh Assembly to aid people in the most disadvantaged communities in Wales. Kerryanne's work with the Association has helped overcome some of the difficulties the community faces by providing outreach and childcare programmes, as well as a range of accredited courses run through the Open College Network. In addition, Kerryanne has also set up the first non-profit talent agency in the UK, which enables young people who otherwise might not have the opportunity, to develop their talent irrespective of race or background.

The Beacon Prize celebrates and raises the profile of charitable giving in the UK by giving recognition to those who have made significant contribution to charity, whether through giving resources, time or specialist skills.

Beacon Chairman Martyn Lewis comments: "Kerryanne's outstanding work with marginalised communities in South Wales is an exceptional model of how individuals can encourage regeneration in their local area. Addressing social exclusion through active engagement empowers whole communities to work towards a better quality of life for all concerned".

Kerryanne added: "I am delighted to have won this prize - it is good to see how successful the Maesglas Family Learning Association has become, and is a testament to all the people involved. I hope that the prize will bring the Association even more recognition in future".

Kerryanne, along with her fellow winners, will be inaugurated as Beacon Fellows at the November 2006 Prize Ceremony, when the overall £30,000 winner will also be announced. The 2005/6 winners will be joining the illustrious ranks of previous Prize recipients such as Sir Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver and the environmentalist Zac Goldsmith. Last year's winner of the Beacon Prize for Wales was Sir David Rowe-Beddoe, Chairman of the Wales Millennium Centre, for his work in the economic and social development of Wales. 

ENDS

For further information, please contact Victoria Walsh on 020 7861 8568 or email vwalsh@bell-pottinger.co.uk or Fintan Nicholls at Beacon on 020 7203 8295 or email fintan.nicholls@beaconfellowship.org.uk