"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." - M.K. Gandhi

The Schumacher Award is presented annually at the Bristol Schumacher Lectures. It honours people and grassroots organisations in the UK whose work is making a significant contribution to human scale sustainable development in the Schumacher tradition. It symbolises coutless other unsung heroines and heroes who are working to transform society, often with little or no support.

All Schumacher Society Members are eligible to nominate, and the Award is judged by the Schumacher Society Council. The Council would like to thank members for all past year's nominations which have resulted in excellent nominees shortlists.

If you are a member and would like to nominate someone please download our
Award Nomination form

The first Awards were made in October 1994 in celebration of the 21st anniversary of the publication of Small is Beautiful. That year twenty-five awards were made to the individuals and organisations (see Past Awards).

Since then each year in which the Schumacher Award has been presented, we have become increasingly aware of the growing contribution of individuals and grass roots organisations everywhere to the momentous changes taking place in every aspect of life. Throughout the UK there are innumerable people who by their inspiration and efforts are increasingly taking responsibility for changing values, improving their environment and, in the spirit of Small is Beautiful, building ‘cultures of peace for the 21st Century’.

Although this symbolic lamp is today awarded annually to only one outstanding pioneer, the Schumacher Society also wishes to recognise and honour all those other ‘unsung heroes and heroines’ who by their positive example are blazing trails of light and hope into the next millennium.