Introduction to the Big Issue
The Big Issue is one of the UK’s leading social businesses, which seventeen years since its inception continues to offer homeless and vulnerably housed people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income.
The organisation is made up of two parts; a limited company which produces and distributes a magazine to a network of street vendors, and a registered charity which exists to help those vendors gain control of their lives by addressing the issues which have contributed to their homelessness.
The Big Issue Company publishes a weekly entertainment and current affairs magazine, which Big Issue sellers (or vendors) buy for 85p and sell for £1.70, thereby earning 85p per copy. Any post investment profit generated through the sale of the magazine or the sale of advertising is passed on to our charity, The Big Issue Foundation. The Foundation is also reliant upon donations from the public to fund its crucial work with vendors.
The organisation currently supports over 2900 homeless and vulnerably housed people across the country. The magazine is read by over 670,000 people every week throughout the UK*.
*NRS Jan-Dec 08
The Big News
Acclaimed artist auctions work for TBI
06th September 2010
Lizzie Mary Cullen thought it ‘stupid not to do something’ about rough sleepers, so she ...
Brighton pitches spray painted
20th August 2010
Big Issue sellers in Brighton & Hove are now much easier to locate and identify following the in...
Paul Oakenfold download produced for readers
27th July 2010
In just one month’s time London’s Dance Festival of choice South West Four returns to th...
