Big Issue names Top 100 Changemakers making a positive impact in 2026

• From a 15-year-old charity busker to a 91-year-old skydiving hopeful, Big Issue readers have put forward heroes doing good for their communities and wider society
• ‘Inequality economist’ Gary Stevenson and actress Juliet Stevenson appear on 2026’s list, while celebrities including Chris Packham, Ed Davey and actor Harris Dickinson have nominated Changemakers
• For the first time, Big Issue Changemakers will be offered guidance and practical support from official partner Wates to help scale their impact

Big Issue has today (Monday 16 February) published its list of Top 100 Changemakers for 2026, revealing its annual reader-nominated picks of people doing good for their communities and society.

Now in its seventh year, Big Issue’s 2026 Changemakers list spans its widest age range yet, with this year’s oldest Changemaker – Stoke-on-Trent’s 91-year-old skydiving hopeful Angela Glendenning – nearly eight decades older than the youngest, 15-year-old busker and fundraiser Scarlett Chapman from Brighton.

For the first time ever, a select group of 2026’s Changemakers will get the opportunity to benefit from advice and guidance from business leaders at Wates, Big Issue’s official Changemakers partner.

Wates will provide access to practical support, constructive challenge and connections that can help scale Changemakers’ operations and increase their social and environmental impact. They will also support Big Issue in putting on an in-person Changemakers celebration, bringing together the 100 inspiring individuals on the list for the first time later this year.

Amongst the impressive names on this year’s Changemakers list is Scarlett Chapman (15) and Angela Glendenning (91), separated by nearly eight decades but united in raising thousands for important causes. Chapman was only eight when she began busking in Brighton to raise money for local charities, and she has since raised more than £10,000 and has launched her own grassroots campaign to identify “microsites” for new social housing in West Sussex.

Glendenning is the oldest person to make the Changemakers list in its seven-year history. A lifelong campaigner and community volunteer in Stoke-on-Trent, Glendenning planned to celebrate turning 91 with a charity skydive, but when safety rules meant she could not jump on the day, she switched tack to explore taking on zipwires and snorkelling challenges instead.

Also celebrated on the list is a former rough sleeper who went viral for his nighttime piano playing at a church in Cornwall. Rhys Wynne-Jones (34) became a viral sensation as Penzance’s “Mystery Nightchurch Pianist” in 2024 and has used the spotlight to raise over £26,000 for homelessness and mental health charities.

Celebrity readers of the Big Issue have also chosen Changemakers. Big Issue ambassador Chris Packham presided over the selection of this year’s Environment and Climate Changemakers, and personally selected Feargal Sharkey and Dale Vince as his pick for the list for the pair’s campaign for the release of 15 gentoo penguins kept in the basement of SEA LIFE London Aquarium.

Actor Harris Dickinson, who’s set to star as John Lennon in the upcoming Beatles biopics, nominated the economist and campaigner Gary Stevenson, praising him for “shouting for us to tax the uber rich, which I’m all on board with completely.” Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World) nominated fellow actor Juliet Stevenson for her human rights campaigning, speaking at rallies and urging the public, institutions and decision-makers to stand against injustice.

Other Changemakers include the Bevy Community Pub, a pub saved from closure in Moulsecoomb, Sussex to now host kids’ clubs, dementia-friendly lunches and disability discos; Marissa Begonia, a former migrant domestic worker now leading rescues of workers being exploited and trafficked; and MYQER, an innovative free QR system that provides immediate emergency health guidance in moments of crisis.

Russell Blackman, Managing Director of the Big Issue, said: “The Big Issue launched 35 years ago this year with a memorable slogan: Rising Up from the Streets. Our annual Changemakers list is a celebration of the people doing just that – whether it be rising up to make marginalised voices heard, or to bring change to their communities and society.

“I’m thrilled that for the first time we can offer our Changemakers support to scale their work thanks to our new official partner Wates. Their experience, expertise and networks will open up exciting new pathways to help some hugely impressive people and organisations make even more impact.”

Eoghan O’Lionaird, Chief Executive of Wates Group, said: “This partnership feels so natural for us. Both Wates and Big Issue are driven by a commitment to tackling inequality, creating opportunity and building communities where people can thrive. We believe everyone deserves a route into meaningful work, including those who are furthest from opportunity.

“As a purpose‑led organisation, Wates has a strong track record of partnering with social enterprises across our operations, while generating social value through every project we deliver. Partnering with Big Issue strengthens that commitment and reinforces our determination to drive positive change where it’s needed most.”

Big Issue’s Changemakers 2026 Special is on sale from today (Monday 16 February). Buy from your local vendor or subscribe at bigissue.com.