Change Activist

Change Activists make things happen, quickly and effectively, in line with their values. This book shows you how to use activist tools in your personal and professional life to get big results, fast, turning effectives strategies into a simple guide to rapid change for themselves, and across any kind of organisation to show how success, profit and principles are mutually achievable GÇô so you can have a job and give a damn.

Carmel McConnell’s background is a mixture of social activism and business. She is a campaigner and fierce optimist about creating a better world. While researching her first book Change Activist, in 2000, Carmel interviewed five headteachers in the London borough of Hackney who told her that many of their pupils arrived at school too hungry or malnourished to learn. Carmel started buying and delivering breakfast food to these schools, with remarkable results as children's concentration, behaviour, punctuality and educational attainment significantly improved. As demand for her help grew, Carmel took time out from her City technology consultancy, setting up Magic Breakfast in 2003. Today, Magic Breakfast and the National School Breakfast Programme (DfE funded to March 2021) provides healthy breakfasts to around 400,000 children in England and Scotland during term time. Carmel was awarded an MBE for her services to school food in the New Year’s Honours 2016. In 2018 she received an Honorary Doctorate from the Open University for improving access to education. She became the 2018 Woman of the Year Campaigner Category at a ceremony in July 2018. Carmel still works full time on Magic Breakfast as well as media work, speaking, writing and faffing around on social media.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION What is a change activist?Why change activism is needed now?And you should listen to me because..?My change activist story PART 1: CHANGE YOUR LIFE How can you take charge of your life?How open are you to change?What do you stand for?If the direction of your life feels unclear, it’s ok, start herePassion, purpose, plan for successful changeWhat did activism ever do for anyone?The benefits of change activismChoose action or stay passiveWhat do you want to change?Is very, very ok to ask for helpMy passion, my purpose, my planPractical activism – here's how10 step self-development planAnd action – toolkit and exercises PART 2: CHANGE HOW YOU WORK Change Activism can strengthen your bottom lineWhat does purpose-led business look like?Purpose led companies outperformFairness as a business normTo your mind and soulHow to create multi million pound social partnershipsProfit and principlesWhat’s that got to do with me?Change led by you, energises you PART 3: RADICAL SELF-CARE Nourish your mind, body and soulWhy life begins at the end of your comfort zone.Resilience starts with radical self careBecoming a priority in your own lifeYour beliefs about reality create your experience of itAsk better questionsTeam You Part 4: A NEW CHANGE ACTIVIST IDEA Can we create a post-poverty Britain?The L.I.F.E. programme – more information CONCLUSION REFERENCES