The Editor's Post: It’s possible: young changemakers hold on to ideals despite financial hardship

As we report this week, in spite of the struggles faced by much of the European economy today, young social entrepreneurs across the continent hold on to an enormously positive vision of what the future could be. In new research from The Possibilists, they describe a 2040 where circularity is the norm, GDP is no longer the only measure of nations’ success, and where AI frees us to engage in community and creative pursuits.

Some may dismiss this as naive optimism, particularly in the face of the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East (although this research was carried out at the end of last year, before the latest developments). Yet Jo Swinson, the former leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats and current director of the philanthropic fund Partners for a New Economy, urges us to believe that “change can totally happen”. 

And perhaps social entrepreneurs need to hold on to their ideals in order to get out of bed and face another day on the frontline. Another report from The Possibilists reveals that three out of four ‘young changemakers’ (that’s under 35-year-olds who are leading initiatives that address social and environmental challenges) around the world earn half or less of what they need through their initiative. Despite some of them facing dire life circumstances (including facing threats for what they do, financial instability and even forgoing medical treatment or food), the report says, they are driven by their strong sense of purpose.

Former social entrepreneur and now MP Josh Babarinde wants to see societies value their social entrepreneurs much more. “It’s a precarious life being a social entrepreneur,” he said at the online launch of the latest research. “We should be honouring these people who are willing to take a risk for themselves and their families to help progress their societies and preserve their environment.” 

Meanwhile, the debate about how the UK defines its ‘impact economy’ is rumbling on following the NPC’s ‘Impact UK’ report publication last month. Writing in Civil Society Media, Andrew Purkis, former CEO of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and past board member of the Charity Commission for England and Wales (so someone who deeply understands this theme) really stuck the knife in: “The implication of your chosen vocabulary that the majority of businesses in the UK have no purpose, and that the entire public sector has no impact, is unhelpful. Remember that most ordinary people are not impact economy insiders and probably find your vocabulary rather silly.” 

The group CEO of Social Enterprise UK, Peter Holbook, also added more to his argument against the terminology (which we reported on here) via LinkedIn, warning that capitalism’s “new look appears to be inspired by the identity, language and trust that social enterprise, cooperatives and charities have earned”. In Peter’s words, has the “language of impact become so elastic that almost anything can stretch to fit inside it”?

Finally, we’re delighted to be media partner to the Euclid Network Impact Summit in Amsterdam next week where our colleague David Lyons will not only be reporting on what’s going on, but also taking part in a discussion about the role of AI in the world of social enterprise, on the back of his brilliant recent film, The AI Dilemma. If you’re there, make sure to say hello!

This week's top stories: 

Future perfect: Young European changemakers dream of a just economy by 2040

Coffee Afrik: delivering trauma-informed care and devolving power to east London communities

Systems change in education: Lessons from LiftEd

The Impact World this Week: 6 March 2026

Top image: Freepik.