Introducing the Big Issue Changemakers of 2023

Every year we celebrate the changemakers who are making things better. This sounds like an obvious thing to do. It is. But it does not always happen. In this time of untethering, when certainties are ever more loosened, the acknowledgement is even more vital.

We explain The Big Issue 100 Changemakers like this:  it’s a celebration of the people and organisations who have focused, not on themselves, but on making things better for all of us. Selfless, frequently unheralded, though sometimes a little better known, they have noticed something that needs done, that which lifts others before themselves, and rather than wait and moan they do it. They can lead us into the new year.

Nominate a Changemaker for 2024 here.

Our changemakers range from teachers who, without fuss, started a food bank in their school (teachers should not need to start a food bank in their school) to a man on the front line in Ukraine risking his life to help the devastated. There are many in-between, almost 100, including environment-fixing goats.

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This year we carry a category for those working to help people hammered by the cost-of-living crisis.

The recent period of confusion and flux has taught us that we cannot rely on top-down change. Leaders are not leading. There is no bright plan.

Life need not be nasty, brutish and short. Around us there are people in our communities, grassroots grafters and fearless figureheads who aspire to more for all. To those creators, the agitators, the activists and the thinkers, to those doing their best to make things better, we celebrate and thank you all.

Welcome to The Big Issue 100 Changemakers 2023.

• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Cost of living crisis
• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Culture
• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Education
• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Employment
• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Environment
• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Equality
• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Housing and homelessness
• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Health and wellbeing
• The Big Issue Changemakers of 2023: Refugees and asylum

Paul McNamee is editor of the Big Issue. Read more of his columns here. Follow him on Twitter

This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine, which exists to give homeless, long-term unemployed and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income.

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