How many people can you name who have made a real impression on you? Changed your outlook, changed your point of view, changed your thinking, changed your life? You may think: “Not that many” and if they do exist, they’re confined to close family and friends. But look closer and further. We did and that’s what The Courier’s Impact 100 is all about.
So what is Impact 100?Impact 100 is The Courier’s chart of 100 amazing people across Courier Country who have made a difference, with special reference to the last 12 months. They’re from all backgrounds, all walks of life, all sorts of professions, all areas of interest. They could be someone at the heart of your community or someone you’ve only ever seen on telly. They could be local heroes or international stars.
And like you, they had to be born here, live here or work here. That world has shaped them and they’ve gone on to shape that world and beyond.
Courier Country covers a huge, highly-populated area of Scotland over 650,000 people and we reckon it punches well above its weight in producing people who get things done and said and noticed. That’s why those who are part of Impact 100 have also made the pages of The Courier because what they do and say affects and engages the people who read this newspaper.
It’s not about money or status. It’s about achievement, contribution and public recognition.Why did we do it?We were inspired because we felt so strongly that there is a huge spectrum of people famous and unknown; nice and notorious; public and private who influence and mould our lives in ways we may not even realise.
We wanted to find out who charmed and challenged our readers, who pleased or provoked. We wanted to know who it is who’s making things happen in your area, in Scotland, across the globe, from school dinners to government policy. It could be a teacher, a doctor or a business leader. It could be a religious figure, an unsung charity worker or a high-profile celebrity. It could be a politician, a children’s entertainer, a writer, a war veteran.
Some will make you think: “Yes, that’s a really good person who has made a difference.” Some will make you think: “I didn’t know they had achieved all this.” Some will make you think: “I wouldn’t give them the time of day!” Some will make you think: “Who? They’re nothing to do with me/I don’t even know who they are.”
But they will all make you think.
We also wanted the chance to showcase and celebrate these people and what they do, to honour outstanding contributions, to salute great talent and ability, to acknowledge hard work and determination and to add more than a few intriguing or eyebrow-raising choices along the way. Nothing like a bit of controversy to stimulate debate or a good, old-fashioned argument!
Editor Richard Neville explained: “This will be a fascinating insight into the lives of some very special people from across Courier Country. There is no definitive answer to who are the most influential and impactful people in our area and our list will inspire some and infuriate others. But no matter what you think of our selection, it will be compulsive reading.
“The Courier Impact 100 is not something that has just been thrown together. We have worked hard for several months to whittle down a considerable long-list to make our 100. We hope the series will engage and stimulate you and, above all, we would love to know what you think.”
The Courier Impact 100 is a first but it’s not a one-off. It’s here to stay, grow, develop and change with us and we want you to have a stake in its future. We want this to be something you are part of, something where your views and ideas and personal experiences matter and are heard. It’s not final or definitive and that’s where you will come in.
It’s aspirational as well as inspirational. You might want to choose who makes the list next year. Or you might want to be on it. From Monday onwards next week, each day we’ll present this year’s choices and tell you why they’re there, right through to Friday, when the No. 1 is revealed.
The 100 special people we’ll highlight next week are already part of your life and we want The Courier Impact 100 to be that, too.
You won’t agree with all of our choices. But you’ll agree that they’re worth talking about, now and tomorrow.