What is a Changemaker?

Make change happen

You roll up your sleeves and take practical action to change things for the better.

 

Talk and do

Action is important but so is the ability to express your plans in words.

 

Challenge existing thinking

You are prepared to be unpopular in the pursuit of finding better ways of doing things.

 

Collaborate

You find ways to work together with other people to achieve your goals.

 

Take risks

You are brave, willing to make mistakes and learn from them.

 

Facilitate

You empower rather than direct other people.

 

Influence

You take people along with you to ensure the changes you make have real impact and are long lasting.

 

Motivate

You can get other people excited about your ideas and working with you to achieve your objectives.

 

Entrepreneurial

You are imaginative, creative, ingenious, seizing opportunities and taking the initiative.

 

Integrity

You are honest, open, consistent and courageous in your relationships with other people.

Meet the Changemakers

 

Changemakers are young people who lead positive change in their world. Here, some of our Changemakers tell their stories.

 

Darren Irvine

Darren, 17, is a Young Advocate for Changemakers. “I am looking at young people’s aspirations, which are very low in the North East,” he says. “They don’t know where they fit in.” Darren has some bracing advice for future leaders. “You have to like a challenge, as you’ll come up against loads of barriers. It’s up to us to get up and empower other young people and not give up at the first hurdle. It’s your first step to real life.”

 

James Bunting

James Bunting, 18, got involved with Changemakers after he was told by his Leaving Care team that he would not be able to get a job because he was getting an allowance. “I didn’t fancy sitting around all day, so I said I was going to do some volunteer work. It also meant I could use my songwriting. I was put in touch with Changemakers by my Connexions worker, and got involved in the work they were doing for the Newcastle Mela in August. I finished up performing three of my own songs to 40,000 people!”

 

Lucy Winn & Daniel Armstrong

Lucy Winn and Daniel Armstrong, both 13, are in a cycling group at Hummersknot School in Darlington, who are training for a sponsored cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Changemakers funded the group to get new bicycles. “The first ride we went out on was eight miles and that was really tough, and now we’re doing forty miles and it’s easy. I think after we finish the sponsored ride, cycling is going to be part of our lives." 

 

Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson is a Changemaker from Nottingham. "When I was 15, I was kicked out of school before my GCSEs for threatening the headmistress. I loved fighting and had supervision orders hanging over my head for violence. When I was 16 my mum kicked me out. Then I won one of 20 places in the national 2007 Changemakers scheme. I now have NVQs and was runner-up in the Young Person Of The Year for Nottinghamshire in 2007.If I hadn't fallen into volunteering I am convinced I would have ended up in prison. Now I have so much confidence. I feel proud of myself."

 

Sobiya Zafar

Sobiya Zafar, 23, was a student at Birmingham University. “I got involved with the Changemakers’ Green Light project. It taught me a lot; not to judge people on the way they look, and to keep my temper! Older people who make comments about our generation don’t have any experience with young people. It is so easy to use stereotypes. Young people aren’t simple and they aren’t straightforward. Anyone who wants a great experience should volunteer. You are changing someone’s life."

 

Tiana Golden

Tiana Golden, now 24, from Barnet in London was brought up in care and as a result wanted to “help influence Barnet and Enfield Council’s Children’s Rights Service. “I sent out 1,200 letters to recruit people and I got one reply, but once I met people face to face I started getting some interest. It’s definitely worth doing, you just have to be really determined!” Tiana now works as a professional Changemaker. 

 

Fyndoune Community College

Fyndoune Community College in Sacriston, County Durham are selling Abbey Well bottled water, with the profits going to provide a well in Ghana. Lynda Dixon co-ordinated the project. “This year they are determined to finally get the well for our school in Ghana. They’ve got a tough job raising £4,000 in a short period of time but they enjoy a challenge. The Changemakers' ethics and ethos pervade all that we do at Fyndoune and I sincerely believe that we would not have done any of this without Changemakers' input.”