Sally Anscombe via Getty Images
It's fair to say young people have a bad rep. Often pigeonholed as apathetic, lazy and disinterested - despite three million, or 40%, having taken part in meaningful social action this year alone.
It's all too easy to focus on the numbers who might not vote in the general election, or the few who give youths a bad name. So this time, we're focusing on the good and the great.
We're taking a look back at how young people have overcome the odds to do something special. The youths who have been an inspiration, those who are campaigning for a better world, and the many who are helping others.
We've cherry-picked 14 young people who made us want to strive for better in 2014. It's by no means all of them, but it's certainly a start.
Young People Changing Britain In 2014
Stephen Sutton(01 of12)
Stephen was an obvious choice. The teenager who passed away in May raised more than £5m for charity and touched the hearts of thousands.
His optimism and zest for life have left a long-lasting legacy, not to mention the number of fellow cancer sufferers he will help through his fundraising.
In November, Stephen was even awarded an MBE from the Queen - as well as an honorary degree from Coventry University.
His optimism and zest for life have left a long-lasting legacy, not to mention the number of fellow cancer sufferers he will help through his fundraising.
In November, Stephen was even awarded an MBE from the Queen - as well as an honorary degree from Coventry University.
Becky Hopper(02 of12)
Becky rocketed to internet fame after tweeting a picture of a "size 8/10" Topshop mannequin standing next to a real size 8/10 woman.
We've included Becky in our list because she reignited an incredibly important conversation around body image and reminded us we don't have to accept the way the fashion industry portrays women. (credit:Becky Hopper)
We've included Becky in our list because she reignited an incredibly important conversation around body image and reminded us we don't have to accept the way the fashion industry portrays women. (credit:Becky Hopper)
Dominique Harrison-Bentzen (03 of12)
Dominique is a pretty last minute entry - but we couldn't not include her.
The UCLan student has raised more than £30,000 for homeless people after Robbie, a man who slept on the streets, offered her his last change so she could get home safely.
So touched by his generosity, she decided to return the favour and spent 24 hours with Robbie raise the money. Dominique is an inspiring example of how charity really does start from home. (credit:Facebook)
The UCLan student has raised more than £30,000 for homeless people after Robbie, a man who slept on the streets, offered her his last change so she could get home safely.
So touched by his generosity, she decided to return the favour and spent 24 hours with Robbie raise the money. Dominique is an inspiring example of how charity really does start from home. (credit:Facebook)
Miriam Steiner(04 of12)
Miriam is a student at Sussex University. She's also disabled.
After struggling with getting around at her university, the 19-year-old started a campaign called Access Success, to "document the plethora of accessibility issues on campus and shame the university into changing its ways and meeting requirements".
It became an official campaign of the university's student union, as well as receiving national coverage. (credit:Miriam Steiner)
After struggling with getting around at her university, the 19-year-old started a campaign called Access Success, to "document the plethora of accessibility issues on campus and shame the university into changing its ways and meeting requirements".
It became an official campaign of the university's student union, as well as receiving national coverage. (credit:Miriam Steiner)
Jack Monroe(05 of12)
Jack Monroe is a 25-year-old single mother from Southend on Sea, who started a blog when she was unemployed and looking for work.
She charted the realities of life on the breadline, and the difficulty of finding work as a single parent in an economic downturn.
After being referred to a food bank last year, she cooks budget meals for herself and her three year old son for less than £10 a week, and recently spoke to a group of MPs in Parliament about food poverty and food banks in Britain. She also won the 2014 Women of the Year Enterprise award. (credit:PA)
She charted the realities of life on the breadline, and the difficulty of finding work as a single parent in an economic downturn.
After being referred to a food bank last year, she cooks budget meals for herself and her three year old son for less than £10 a week, and recently spoke to a group of MPs in Parliament about food poverty and food banks in Britain. She also won the 2014 Women of the Year Enterprise award. (credit:PA)
Oli Slattery & The KCL Enactus Group(06 of12)
While most are content with talking about their travels, King's College London student Oli (pictured centre) was inspired to help the homeless following a trip to Alaska.
With his social enterprise society, the Enactus group, Oli is training up London's homeless to make Sleepcoats - a coat which doubles up as a sleeping bag. (credit:Enactus)
With his social enterprise society, the Enactus group, Oli is training up London's homeless to make Sleepcoats - a coat which doubles up as a sleeping bag. (credit:Enactus)
Debs Torr and Chris Dobson(07 of12)
It may sound like an unusual way to help the environment, but UEA students Debs and Chris started a campaign to encourage the public to wee in the shower.
They hope to get all 15,000 students at the university to take part in the gowiththeflow initiative. If successful, they would save enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 26 times over in just one year.
The pair are representing UEA in the Npower Future Leaders Challenge, encouraging students to devise an environmental initiative on their campus. (credit:UEA)
They hope to get all 15,000 students at the university to take part in the gowiththeflow initiative. If successful, they would save enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 26 times over in just one year.
The pair are representing UEA in the Npower Future Leaders Challenge, encouraging students to devise an environmental initiative on their campus. (credit:UEA)
Aisha Abdulsalam(08 of12)
Meet Aisha, who is set to be the world’s first Kurdish female Pilot.
After achieving A-levels in Maths and Art & Design, she has gained a place to study Aviation Pilot Studies at Buckinghamshire New University.
“In my country as well as in Iraq, there are no women pilots," she says. "So if I do become a pilot, I will be the first Kurdish woman to become a pilot.”
On top of taking her A-levels, Aisha also had to care for her mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer.
She might not be Britain's first female pilot, but she's certainly an inspirational figure for British youths. (credit:ARK Putney Academy)
After achieving A-levels in Maths and Art & Design, she has gained a place to study Aviation Pilot Studies at Buckinghamshire New University.
“In my country as well as in Iraq, there are no women pilots," she says. "So if I do become a pilot, I will be the first Kurdish woman to become a pilot.”
On top of taking her A-levels, Aisha also had to care for her mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer.
She might not be Britain's first female pilot, but she's certainly an inspirational figure for British youths. (credit:ARK Putney Academy)
Tom Macmichael(09 of12)
Meet Tom Macmichael, second year Computer Science student at the University of Edinburgh and budding entrepreneur, who’s revolutionising the taxi booking system.
YourTaximeter uses prices set by the local district council to work out taxi costs. He aims to give underdog taxi firms a fair chance against private companies, reducing competition, redundancies and losses.
YourTaximeter uses prices set by the local district council to work out taxi costs. He aims to give underdog taxi firms a fair chance against private companies, reducing competition, redundancies and losses.
Rosie Corrigan(10 of12)
21-year-old Rosie became the youngest woman ever to be elected as Mayor after first entering politics to campaign about tuna paninis.
Labour party member Rosie Corrigan was elected Mayor of Selby, a market town in North Yorkshire in May.
Corrigan plans to use her year in office to further encourage political awareness in the youth of Selby. (credit:Twitter)
Labour party member Rosie Corrigan was elected Mayor of Selby, a market town in North Yorkshire in May.
Corrigan plans to use her year in office to further encourage political awareness in the youth of Selby. (credit:Twitter)
Natalie Atkinson(11 of12)
Ok, she hasn't changed Britain per se, but she is undeniably a hugely inspirational example of how to turn your life around - no matter what.
Lancaster-born Natalie Atkinson left school aged 12 and has committed more than 100 offences, including assaulting a police officer, theft, battery and criminal damage.
Having been in and out of secure juvenile centres from the beginning of her teens, Natalie found herself locked up in HMP Styal, Cheshire - where she developed a Subutex addiction and began to self-harm - just a week after her 18th birthday.
But the University of Cumbria student turned her life around and achieved a majestic 95% in her dissertation and will go on to study for a MSc in Criminal Justice Policy at the pretigious London School of Economics.
Lancaster-born Natalie Atkinson left school aged 12 and has committed more than 100 offences, including assaulting a police officer, theft, battery and criminal damage.
Having been in and out of secure juvenile centres from the beginning of her teens, Natalie found herself locked up in HMP Styal, Cheshire - where she developed a Subutex addiction and began to self-harm - just a week after her 18th birthday.
But the University of Cumbria student turned her life around and achieved a majestic 95% in her dissertation and will go on to study for a MSc in Criminal Justice Policy at the pretigious London School of Economics.
Arthur Kay(12 of12)
Arthur came up with the idea of making biofuel from waste coffee grounds. Nifty idea, right?
So it's no surprise Arthur is one of this year's "London Leaders" - Boris Johnson's scheme to promote green entrepreneurship. Arthur's business has already been funded by Shell Oil and the Mayor of London - and hopes to expand domestically and internationally.
So it's no surprise Arthur is one of this year's "London Leaders" - Boris Johnson's scheme to promote green entrepreneurship. Arthur's business has already been funded by Shell Oil and the Mayor of London - and hopes to expand domestically and internationally.