Jean Vanier, one of the world's leading proponents of independence for people with learning disabilities has been recognised for his lifetime work by winning this year's celebrated Beacon Prize.  Vanier is the overall winner of the £30,000 prize which he will be able to donate to the charity of his choice.  It was awarded at a ceremony at Plaisterers' hall this evening, attended by the Rt. Hon. Hilary Armstrong MP.   Founder of the international community known as L'Arche, Vanier has set in place 130 communities in 30 countries across the globe having dedicated his life to counselling, encouraging and promoting people with learning disabilities to live a full and active life and helping them to contribute and participate in their communities.  Through these communities, thousands of disabled people have gained a tremendous sense of self-worth and independence going on to lead fuller, more fulfilling lives.

Beacon Prize winners are chosen for their exceptional philanthropic contribution through the giving of their time, money and skills in order to benefit specific charitable causes and Beacon has become known as the 'Nobel Prize of the charity world', a phrase first coined by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony the Chair of the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust, Martyn Lewis said: "I am delighted to present the Beacon Prize to Jean Vanier.   He has pioneered one of the definitive models of care and assistance of people with learning disabilities, bringing together communal groups of people of all ability levels to provide mutual support to each other. Through L'Arche, Jean Vanier has raised the dignity and value of people with learning disabilities to create integrated communities which are sound, productive centres of excellence in the care and support of disabled people". 

As well as awarding the overall Beacon Prize to Jean Vanier, The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust also honoured 15 other individuals at the Beacon Prize Ceremony, including Paul and Diana Lamplugh who were recognised for their work through the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, created after the disappearence of their daughter in 1986, working to establish a greater awareness of personal safety; homelessness campaigner John Bird, the founder of The Big Issue and Leah Pattison, the 'Angel of Nagpur' whose life has been devoted to working with lepers in central India.

At the Prize Ceremony all sixteen winners were 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. 

ENDS

For further information on the Beacon Prize, winners' biographies and photos of the 2005/6 award recipients or on The Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust contact Jennifer Morgan on 020 7861 8568 or email jmorgan@bell-pottinger.co.uk or Fintan Nicholls on 0207 203 8295 or email fintan.nicholls@beaconfellowship.org.uk 

 

BIOGRAPHY - Jean Vanier

Brief description of achievement: Jean Vanier is the founder of L'Arche ('The Ark'), an international family of 130 communities in 30 countries in which people with learning disabilities and their assistants live and work together. L'Arche believes that whatever their gifts and limitations, people are all bound together in a common humanity.

Background: Founded by Vanier in France 40 years ago, L'Arche is based on the principle of welcoming individuals of all faiths and none into a unique and inspiring group where people with disabilities are at the centre of their community.  L'Arche first arrived in the UK in 1974. With help from Jean's sister, Thérèse (a doctor in London and first community leader), the Archbishop of Canterbury, Ann and Geoffrey Morgan and others, the first UK L'Arche opened in Kent. There are nine L'Arche communities in the UK, in Kent, Inverness, Liverpool, London, Bognor Regis, Brecon, Edinburgh, Preston and Ipswich, with a tenth planned in Glasgow. They provide homes in ordinary houses to more than 100 people with learning disabilities and a similar number of assistants.

Jean Vanier currently spends his time counselling, encouraging and accompanying assistants in their personal journey through L'Arche. He travels a great deal visiting L'Arche communities, lecturing, encouraging new projects and offering retreats. L'Arche welcomes men and women with learning disabilities aged 18 and over. These are people with a wide range of different abilities and disabilities, independence and needs, from varied backgrounds and of different ages. Historically, many of the members come from institutions or long stay hospitals where it was impossible to lead a normal life.  As Vanier notes: "To listen to someone means to become open and vulnerable to him/her and to allow them to disturb us, to change our habits and our ways of thinking and seeing things".

Nowadays people come in order to build an individual life away from care homes or hospitals. Some residents have lived in L'Arche communities for over 24 years.

L'Arche's charter notes among its aims that it " ...seeks to respond to the distress of those that are too often rejected, and to give them a valid place in society".  Vanier has been integral in the global drive to recognise the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, and today, is seen as a pioneering advocate for the learning disability community.

Overall achievement: "Vanier has made an enormous difference in the lives of many otherwise marginalised and misunderstood people. Jean has pioneered a new approach to helping and supporting those with learning disabilities which has been replicated across the world " Lt. Cdr. Peter Cox