Creating Big Change Together
The power of the collective is embedded in our community of leaders whose bold ideas we support, among the philanthropists who come together to support Big Change, and in the global network of innovators and partners from whom we learn so much. Since 2020, we are proud to have:
- Grown our community of changemakers and back projects that support the next generation to thrive in life, not just exams.
- Supported early stage ideas through the Big Education Challenge, an ambitious £1m prize fund to surface, support and back leaders with early stage ideas that have the potential to transform education and learning.
- Enabled thousands of young people, teachers, parents, and communities to come together through the Big Education Conversation, in the UK and globally, to reimagine education, make their own commitments to change locally, and shape national policy proposals.
A snapshot in numbers
“The great privilege of working at Big Change is supporting the growth of incredible leaders who dare to dream about a different kind of future for all young people. These are not your typical hero leaders. Their vision, insights, and actions are all about the collective. They choose to work on the deep and lasting change that is created by people coming together to achieve more than they ever could alone.“
Essie North, CEO, Big Change
“It’s exciting to see an organisation genuinely working hard to support changemakers and using such a brave model. This kind of funding creates the conditions for the radical shifts that we so badly need to start taking place. And it’s exciting to see the Challenge creating room for young people to make those radical shifts!”
Eliza Reid-Perks, Youth Associate, Team & Advisors
“Big Change’s willingness to take a chance on a new founder, with a bold idea, has been a huge contributor to the initial and enduring success of The Difference. Five years on, The Difference is a thriving charity working with hundreds of schools and helping thousands of students to feel safe, included and successful.”
Kiran Gill, CEO, The Difference
How we create Big Change – highlights
We show a new way
is possible
We find and back leaders with projects, and early-stage ideas that positively impact thousands of young people.
Highlights
Since 2020, we have designed and launched the first £1m Big Education Challenge, supporting and funding 15 Finalists and their bold ideas.
We have grown our community of change makers by supporting 10 additional leaders and projects, taking our portfolio to 63.
We create change with, not to, young people
We listen to young people, support them and their ideas, and ensure their needs are at the centre of every project we back.
Highlights
Since 2020 we have listened to and brought together diverse voices calling for change through a national listening exercise during the pandemic, thousands of Big Education Conversations around the world, and an intergenerational approach to shaping policy. We have supported 13 young leaders with capacity building and funding through the Big Education Challenge.
We learn with others and shift mindsets
We bring together, and learn with, diverse experts and leaders who are working to transform education and learning, to inform our work and champion change together.
Highlights
Since 2020, we have co-created and shared the influential New Education Story research and framework by working with global partners to understand the why, what and how of transforming education systems. Inspired and influenced global best practice on intergenerational collaboration. Our partners include Teach for All, OECD, The Brookings Institute, Salzburg Global Seminar, YouthXYouth, and Restless Development.
“I am yet to see anything like Big Change’s Big Education Challenge. It specialises in being able to change the education system by going to the people who have just been through it.”
Caitlyn Glover, Big Education Challenge Finalist
“By joining Big Change’s Youth Advisory Group I learned about educational disparities. It made me realise the immense power education held, the key to unlocking a better future.”
Aminah Haider
Big Change, Youth Advisory Group
“Big Change’s investment in people and relationship building, and in enabling everyone to be at their best, has put them on a trajectory to contribute more than they might have ever envisioned.”
Wendy Kopp
CEO, Teach For All
Big Change Takes Time
Following our early support, many projects go on to change the system by transforming opportunities for young people on a national scale and influencing policy.
- In 2013 we backed Frontline which is now England’s largest social work charity and has trained 2,400 new social workers who reach over 150,000 families across England. The social workers they train also have staying power – with 82% of graduates staying in the profession. Frontline’s founder, Josh MacAlister, went on to chair the government’s Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.
- In 2014 we were an early supporter of Voice 21 when they were piloting an oracy education program in just one school in East London. Nine years on they now work with 203,000 students from Jersey to Dundee, in 852 schools. Through their advocacy work and their Big Change-funded Oracy All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), oracy has featured in cross party education priorities.
- In 2017 we provided early-stage funding to 50 Things To Do Before You’re Five. They now have a presence in 22 local authorities, and are working with approximately 1 in 8 under 5s in these areas. They have also secured over £1m in follow-on funding from the Department for Education.
“Big Change’s work fills me with hope for the future. There is never one solution to solving big problems, so supporting early-stage ideas that tackle systemic issues from many different angles is a brilliant way forward.”
Essie Holly Branson, Big Change Founder and Trustee
Our community of Big Changers see the bigger picture
Big Change project partners expand opportunities for young people, within, and beyond the classroom. They don’t only want to solve problems they see now, but to create and share solutions that can pave the way towards a different future. We are proud to have backed 63 ideas and projects that are on a mission to transform the lives of thousands of young people.
Big Education Challenge
