A benefactor who has founded more than 40 charitable organisations since 1966 was among a number of Jewish philanthropists honoured at the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust Awards.

Michael Norton created an English programme for non-English speaking immigrants. He then established the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action, which initiated a range of projects including a banking system for street children in South Asia and MyBnk, improving financial literacy among UK schoolchildren.

Honoured for pioneering philanthropy, he said: “I really enjoy what I do. I want to inspire and encourage young people to go out and change the world and to support the individuals who have good ideas to make them happen.”

Travelex founder and National Theatre board member Lloyd Dorfman received the cultural philanthropy award and financier Sir Ronald Cohen the award for impact investment.

Younger benefactors Michael Harris and Adam Pike were honoured for City philanthropy.

Collectively, the 33 Beacon Fellows, among them JK Rowling, have donated £100 million to philanthropic causes across a range of local and global organisations.