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Isabella McRae
Isabella McRae is a senior reporter and feature writer at The Big Issue. She reports on a wide range of issues across social affairs and culture. Isabella was awarded Best News Story at the Anti-Slavery Day Awards in 2025. She was also a winner of the PPA Next Gen Awards in 2023, formerly known as the 30 under 30, and was shortlisted for journalist of the year in the Scope Disability Awards 2024. Get in touch with Isabella through isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com
Nearly one in three women consider quitting jobs due to menopause: 'I felt like a shadow of myself'
Isobel
Menopause

Nearly one in three women consider quitting jobs due to menopause: 'I felt like a shadow of myself'

I'm worried that even more disabled children could get lost within the SEND system after reforms
Cara Roughani and her son Jayden.
SEND

I'm worried that even more disabled children could get lost within the SEND system after reforms

What will the SEND reforms mean for families and their disabled children?
Children in a classroom
SEND

What will the SEND reforms mean for families and their disabled children?

It was a traumatic, hellish fight trying to get SEND support for my daughter
Gaby and David Boast and their daughter Nellie.
SEND

It was a traumatic, hellish fight trying to get SEND support for my daughter

Meet the dads who started a podcast about their experiences raising autistic children
The hosts of Autism Dadcast, Gaz Hitchin (left) and Andy Williams (right).
SEND

Meet the dads who started a podcast about their experiences raising autistic children

I left teaching because I felt eaten up by guilt that I couldn't help SEND children like my own
Sara and her daughter Ava.
SEND

I left teaching because I felt eaten up by guilt that I couldn't help SEND children like my own

My children were out of school for more than a year as we fought to get them SEND support
Elizabeth Padilla
SEND

My children were out of school for more than a year as we fought to get them SEND support

Labour says it wants to end the need for food banks. Is there any way it can succeed?
Peeblesshire Foodbank in the Trussell network.
Food banks

Labour says it wants to end the need for food banks. Is there any way it can succeed?

Mainstream school was right for my daughter. SEND changes could cause more harm than good
Sharon Smith and daughter Tanzie.
SEND

Mainstream school was right for my daughter. SEND changes could cause more harm than good

My son is deaf and blind – but it was months of fighting before he got SEND support
Kimberly Hind and son Harvey
SEND

My son is deaf and blind – but it was months of fighting before he got SEND support

Families face a bitter fight for SEND support in the UK: 'It nearly killed us emotionally and financially'
Big Issue has spoken to a number of families with children with SEND who have struggled to navigate the system.
SEND

Families face a bitter fight for SEND support in the UK: 'It nearly killed us emotionally and financially'

Rosie Jones: 'I thought I couldn't be disabled and gay – I'd never seen a gay disabled person'
Comedian Rosie Jones
Comedy

Rosie Jones: 'I thought I couldn't be disabled and gay – I'd never seen a gay disabled person'