Kevin Jenkins OBE has been awarded the prestigious annual £30k Beacon Prize for his work with the children and young people of Newham.

Kevin is just one of six recipients of the 2008 Beacon Prize and joins the ranks of previous Beacon winners such as Sir Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver and environmentalist, Zac Goldsmith who have all been recognised for their charitable work through what has become known as the 'Nobel Prize of the charity world', first coined by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Kevin co-founded Community Links in 1977 whilst still at school and grew the Children and Youth Programme from four projects that helped 150 children and young people to a £5million budget supporting 3,000 individuals aged 2-24 years every week. He remains at the charity as a Senior Advisor.

In addition to his work with Community Links, Kevin has also played an instrumental role in the Newham community, influencing local council strategy on early years, play and youth; set up and supported emerging youth agencies; and fundraised for local schools. His work is so respected that he has shared best practice across the country and has also received an OBE.

Martyn Lewis, former Chairman of Beacon, who will be hosting Tuesday's Prize Ceremony, said: "Kevin's work in Newham is based on a strong belief that investing in our children and young people should be at the very heart of any drive to regenerate an area and build cohesion and inclusion in a community. Thousands of children and young have greater life opportunity thanks to Kevin's work. His contribution and dedication are outstanding."

Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, Kevin said: "I am so pleased to receive this award. I hope it sends a message that our nation's children and young people deserve the very best start in life. They need our help to develop and learn, and we should also remember the great contribution they can make to their communities through initiatives such as volunteering if they are only given opportunity and encouragement."

Kevin received his £30k award at a Prize Ceremony on Tuesday 18 November 2008 at 'Room by the River', Southbank, London, SE1. All six finalists 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.

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Notes for Editors

For further information on the Beacon Prize, winners' biographies and photos of the 2008 award recipients or on the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust please contact Maeve Anglim on 020 7203 8290 or maeve.anglim@beaconfellowship.org.uk

The full list for Beacon Prize winners for 2008 are:

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Ms Vikki George Beacon Young Philanthropist
For setting up 'PostPals', a website that invites people to make contact with a child with a chronic illness

Mr Tom Henderson Beacon Prize for New Initiatives
For setting up ShelterBox Trust to provide humanitarian aid worldwide for people displaced by natural and other disasters

Mr Paul Barry-Walsh Beacon Prize
For Creative Giving For setting up Frederick's Foundation which helps those who are disadvantaged to set up their own business

Mr Richard Moore Beacon Special Prize
For founding Children in Crossfire which works towards the eradication of poverty

Mr Kevin Jenkins (OBE) Beacon Prize for Community Builder
For his work with the children and young people of Newham

Dr Peter Carey Beacon Prize for Leadership
For his work with the Cambodia Trust

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The Beacon Fellowship is a charitable organisation set up to encourage individual contributions to charitable and social causes and to celebrate and showcase best practice in giving.  Beacon awards annual prizes to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to charitable causes or to organisations that benefit the public.

An overall winner will be selected every year, who will be given a cash award of £30,000, to be invested in an innovative way by the winner in a charity of their choice.  Beacon believes that by highlighting the achievements of the prize winners and showcasing innovation and best practice in philanthropy, others will be inspired and encouraged to make their own contribution.

The objectives of the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust are as follows:

• To run a nationally recognised prize scheme through which the charity sector can acknowledge and reward exceptional philanthropic acts by individuals (giving of time, leadership, money, skills and ideas)
• To highlight motivating role models and forms of giving to inspire and educate the next generation of donors
• To showcase and implement innovative grant-making techniques through an annual grant by Beacon
• To develop a Fellowship body of prize winners who, as they grow in number, are an active force in the charity sector and help raise general awareness and educate the general public

www.beaconfellowship.org.uk