When you’re battling injustice or corruption you need someone in your corner to fight alongside you – just like these Changemakers.
Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir
Described by their nominator as “the voice of reason on so many trans issues”, Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir, aka Owl Fisher is an award-winning Icelandic journalist, filmmaker, author and activist. They are the only and longest-running trans columnist for the Metro and have appeared on many news outlets including Fox News, Sky News, Novara Media and the BBC. Additionally, Jónsdóttir worked for four years in Iceland to create new legislation for trans, non-binary and intersex rights, making Iceland the second best country in the world on ILGA Europe’s Rainbow Index.
What is your ‘big issue’ and how are you trying to tackle it?
My big issue is eradicating hate and prejudice towards trans people – which is easier said than done in our current media and political climate. Trans people have sadly become a punching bag within our society, where it has become commonplace to spread fear and misinformation about us, and where we are often painted as a problem or a threat, when it’s clear to anyone with any critical thinking skills that we are much more likely to be threatened and to be abused than to be a threat ourselves.
The way I am trying to tackle it is to write articles, partake in projects and raise awareness in general, both by addressing certain topics but also by sharing my own personal experience. As a woman who is a feminist and a survivor, it’s so blatantly obvious to me that the fight for gender equality is intrinsically linked with trans equality, racial justice, disability justice, the fight against poverty and homelessness and equality in general. I think people need to stop letting their prejudice get in the way, and instead treat people with respect and care.
What’s the one thing you want people to know about your work?
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Simply that trans equality and inclusion is a vital part of wider equality, and that we all deserve equal human rights and respect. Trans people are people just like you, who are trying to get on with life, and just want to be treated with some basic respect and dignity. We all deserve that, and we need to look inward and make sure we are not contributing to further hostilities and prejudice by the things we say and do.
Do you have any memorable moments from 2024?
Lots of them, yes. This year I ran for parliament in Iceland, and was one of the first trans people in Iceland to publicly do so. Even if the election results didn’t go as we wanted, it was an important moment in visibility, and incredibly rewarding and a great learning experience.
What are your plans for 2025?
At the moment I have quite a few writing projects on the go, a possible podcast and continued public speaking opportunities lined up, so my plan is to simply continue to fight for equality, and help to try and create a safe, just and free society for us all.
Banseka Kayembe
Naked Politics
Dartford-based Naked Politics is an online media organisation focused on young people and democracy. It has given hundreds of young people the opportunity to produce quality journalism. As an educational organisation, Naked Politics has supported over 400 young marginalised people through its schools programme, educating and empowering them on grassroots, community-led democratic action to challenge power holders and hold them to account on policy issues. Founded by Banseka Kayembe, the platform began its life as a small website blog which she started after finishing university in 2015. Today Kayembe runs the platform as its director alongside website editor Adele Walton and administrative officer Bella Frimpong.
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Jemmar Samuels, Collective Punishment Campaign
An estimated 312,000 children have to face a parent being imprisoned each year in England and Wales. After experiencing this herself, Young Changemaker Jemmar Samuels, 24, set up the Collective Punishment Campaign. Launched in 2022, the campaign aims to raise awareness and also secure comprehensive policy reforms to ensure families are adequately supported following parental imprisonment. Her nominator called Samuels’ work “amazing”.
Brenda Birungi, Lady Unchained
Brenda Birungi, aka Lady Unchained, is described by her nominator as a “true changemaker”. With lived experience of the criminal justice system, she channelled the trauma of her incarceration into writing. Lady Unchained is now a poet, published author and multi-award-winning radio presenter for prison radio. She runs workshops in prisons and women’s centres and inspires everyone she meets. Her nominator wrote: “Lady Unchained wants to show that there is life after prison and she’s a perfect example.”
Jack Murley, The Jack Murley Sports Show
Image: Michael Terry
Jack Murley is an award-winning presenter, journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience. He is a champion for LGBTQ+ athletes and people in sport through his Jack Murley Sports Show podcast. It includes in-depth and powerful conversations with some of the biggest names in sports about their journeys on the pitch and their lives away from it. Notable guests include Olympic swimmer Daniel Jervis, cricket superfan Stephen Fry and Olympic shot-putter Sophie McKinna. His nominator highlights: “The podcast isn’t just instrumental in amplifying queer voices in an arena that can still be hostile, but provides hope and inspiration through increasing visibility of LGBTQ+ people in sport.”
JENGbA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association)
The joint enterprise law allows for the prosecution of a group of people for one crime. It means bystanders can be convicted of murder or manslaughter. Often people are convicted under joint enterprise based on prejudicial evidence, inaccurate testimony or racial stereotypes. The campaign group JENGbA is campaigning to support the 1,500 prisoners serving life sentences convicted as secondary parties. Their campaigning was undoubtedly instrumental in the 2016 Supreme Court victory, where senior judges acknowledged the law had taken a wrong turn in 1984. The campaign leads the way in gaining acquittals for the wrongly convicted and achieving further legal reform.
Find the rest of the Changemakers series on the links below and pick up the magazine from your local Big Issue vendor.
The fight to make care experience a protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010) can’t be mentioned without the name Terry Galloway. The Nottingham-based activist has successfully petitioned more than 100 councils in the UK to treat care experience as a protected characteristic. In December 2024, Galloway helped form the first cross-party group for care experienced people. He told Big Issue at the time: “It’s about ensuring that when decisions are made that the impact on those most vulnerable is taken into consideration and mitigated against.”
Young Changemaker Jeffrey Oyinlola, 25, is founder and director of Pick Up the Mic, a podcast network amplifying diverse young voices. It aims to address challenges and uncertainties students face by offering a platform of resources and personal stories. Collaborating with universities, students are empowered to make the most of their journey. Oyinlola envisions a future where opportunities are equitable and collaboration drives sustainable change across industries.
Felicia Pennant. Image: Ollie Trenchard
Felicia Pennant, SEASON
In 2016, Felicia Pennant founded the trailblazing football and fashion platform SEASON zine to counter the “male, pale, sometimes stale” state of modern football culture. It was named one of the UK’s best independent football magazines by Hypebeast in 2019, and in 2024 was shortlisted for the Georgina Henry Women in Journalism Award at the Society of Editors Awards. As a freelance journalist, Pennant has written for publications such as Vogue, i-D and Dazed.
In a Mother’s Mind
This podcast was created by Pause, a national charity working with women who’ve had – or are at risk of having – their children removed from their care. In each episode, women who no longer have children in their care, alongside professionals and sector experts, discuss the issues they face and think about how they can work together to make things better.
