Campaigners Paul and Diana Lamplugh, have been named the winners of the prestigious 2005/6 Beacon Prize for Leadership. 

Paul and Diana founded the Suzy Lamplugh Trust after the disappearence of their daughter in 1986.  Through their work, Paul and Diana established personal safety as a discipline to counter aggression and violence today. In this, Diana became the foremost expert in the country with Paul and Diana working together to create the Trust as the leading authority on the subject. They join the ranks of previous winners such as Sir Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver and environmentalist, Zac Goldsmith all of whom have been recognised for their charitable work through what has become known as the 'Nobel Prize of the charity world', first coined by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Paul and Diana are among the 16 recipients of the 2005/6 Prize, all of whom were chosen for their exceptional philanthropic contribution through the giving of their time, money and skills in order to benefit specific charitable causes.  The Award for Leadership comes in the light of Diana's recent struggle with Alzheimer's and at a time when personal safety is increasingly in the headlines.

Chair of the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust, Martyn Lewis notes: "Diana Lamplugh, strongly supported by her husband Paul became iconic in the drive to raise awareness on personal safety and addressing the causes and behaviours that surround violence and aggression in society today. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is borne out of personal tragedy and is an exceptional example of how two people have built on their loss to create a safer and more considerate society. For last 15 years, Paul and Diana have worked together to create a legacy through the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. Together, the Lamplugh's have ensured that Suzy's tragic disappearance will teach people to be aware of their own safety and security and consequently, save lives".

Also named as 2005/6 Beacon Prize winners are John Bird, founder of the street paper The Big Issue which addresses the needs and concerns of homeless people; Vivien Duffield, philanthopist and arts patron who through the Clore Foundation has pledged more than £11 million to charitable causes and  the 'Angel of Nagpur', Leah Pattison, whose life has been devoted to working with lepers in central India.

The Prize Ceremony will take place in November 2006 when the winners will be inaugurated as Beacon Fellows, a community of Beacon Prize winners who together, champion charitable causes across the globe and nurture a wider culture of giving in the UK.  The ceremony will also see the overall Beacon Prize winner announced, receiving £30,000 to donate a charitable cause of their choice. 

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