Teen's homelessness charity wins Big Issue recognition

A teenage campaigner from Brighton has been selected as one of the Big Issue's 100 Changemakers of 2026 for her efforts in highlighting the stories of families living in emergency and temporary housing.

Scarlett is the founder of Mission:Home, a charity which aims to end homelessness in the city.

The 15-year-old has been busking since she was eight and has raised more than £10,000 for homelessness causes.

She told the BBC she was "truly honoured" to be recognised by the Big Issue so soon after launching her charity.

Scarlett said her first project for the charity was rallying support for Brighton and Hove City Council's proposal to build four homes to support Woodingdean families.

She said this project had gone "incredibly well", as responses from residents "far exceeded" what she had imagined.

"After this positive response, I am reassured this project will definitely not be the last for the charity," she added.

Scarlett hoped the recognition from the Big Issue would help Mission:Home "open many doors", including funding.

"This is so we can deliver more projects and secure even more council housing for families experiencing homelessness," she said.

One of the charity's other mission is to turn the city's "forgotten spaces" into homes.

"No child should spend their whole school life in temporary accommodation," she added.

Russell Blackman, managing director of the Big Issue, said: "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."

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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