THE BEACON AWARDS celebrates the outstanding achievements of people who have, in various ways, brought about lasting social change through their conviction, determination and generosity.

Lord Harris has been a live-wire when it has comes to business and public life. He was the chairman of Carpetright and has been involved in the carpet business for over 50 years while his other interests range from sport to politics. He has been a director of Arsenal Football Club since 2005 and a listened to voice by politicians on business and education.

At this year’s Beacon Awards Ceremony Lord and Lady Harris received a Beacon Award for Philanthropy for their dedication to children and their belief that all children should have the best possible start in life. Their long commitment to foetal medicine and to the Academy school movement is testament their cause.

Since the mid-70s the Harris family has committed 20 per cent of their wealth to philanthropy and raised hundreds of millions of pounds for various causes, including disability, cancer (funding the country’s first breast cancer scanner at Paddington Hospital) and end of life care through the Harris Hospice in Orpington.

The relationship between Wellbeing of Women (previously Birthright) and Lord and Lady Harris spans over thirty years. Through it, they have helped hundreds of thousands of families.

We were delighted when Lady Harris took the time to talk to us about how it felt to receive the award as well as some of her own sporting endeavours. 

Lord Philip Harris and Lady Pauline Harris  receive their award from chairman of UK Community Foundations David Sheepshanks.

 

 

 

 

Having dedicated much of your life to giving and raising money for charity how does it feel to be recognised with a Beacon Award for Philanthropy?

It was very unexpected but makes all the work involved in fundraising worthwhile.

Could you give us some more information on what exploits and work have helped you win the award?

We have set up research units for Birthright and are about to open new centres at Liverpool, King’s College, St Mary’s Paddington, Oxford, Sheffield, and Aberdeen.

I am also working closely with the Aimal Health Trust so we are continuing to raise money for that organisation.

Then there are our academies which we are extremely passionate about and proud of.

What has made the academies so successful and respected by the media?

I have to say the staff are at the forefront. They are hands-on and all very good staff, all working to the same end – students respond to people taking an interest in them.

There is competition between the different schools which is helpful – everyone wants to be the best.

Students feel they can approach staff or governors if they need guidance on anything in school or outside which is also important.

You often visit the academies and meet the pupils. What kind of reception do you receive and what is it like to meet in person those whose lives are being affected by the work of your foundation?

The children are talking to us and showing us their work, they all like to wear a school uniform, especially the primary pupils. This is as important as it creates a unity between them – there is no competition over who has the best clothes etc.

It’s quite astonishing when we have visited the schools. The children really have been so appreciative and polite – it makes it seem all so worthwhile.

Could you tell us more about your previous passions for car rallying?

I did classic car rallying with a close friend and I started rallying with one of my son’s friends who needed a driver. We had a great time and I learnt a lot from him. We were very successful and completed the a trail of South America in 2001 – there was plenty of adrenalin on that trip.

Could you tell us more about your involvement in show jumping and any successes you have had?

Our support of show jumping is through our rider Scott Brash. He was riding in Scotland when we first saw him. We bought him a horse and he went on to win Gold in London. We have since then bought him more horses and he and his team have now been number 1 in the world for 16 months.

What is it that keeps motivating you to work to help the lives of others?

The joy of seeing young people finding they can excel when before they had no motivation.

To find out more about the Beacon Awards visit www.beaconawards.org.uk.