4. Carmel McConnell

Carmel McConnell is a lifelong social activist and founder of Magic Breakfast, a charity that since 2004 has delivered more than 6 million breakfasts to children at more than 200 primary schools, many in areas of social deprivation.

She has formed partnership schemes with schools to end the negative impact of child poverty upon well-being and readiness for learning. Magic Breakfast won Guardian Charity of the Year in 2005 as well as the Caroline Walker Trust Social Enterprise Award.

It was while researching her first book, Change Activist that Carmel McConnell became aware of the problem of children arriving at school too hungry to learn. She re-mortgaged her home to start the charity and founded the social enterprise Magic Outcomes in 2003 to help the neediest primary schools through better community and business partnerships.

She a board member of the UK School Food Trust, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.