Helô! We're bringing our Big Community Roadshow to Cardiff

Big Issue teams from all over Britain will head to Cardiff this month on the next stop of our Big Community Roadshow – wela i di cyn bo hir!

Last autumn Big Issue travelled to Newcastle for our first-ever roadshow, reporting on stories important to the local community and championing grassroots responses to societal issues, while sharing details of how Big Issue can offer positive solutions, employment and investment opportunities.

Now we’re going to the Welsh capital between Monday 12 May and Wednesday 14 May for a busy line-up of community events and activities.

Throughout the stay, Big Issue’s editorial team will report on stories that are important to the people of Cardiff and South Wales. We will have an open door and encourage people to drop in, to meet us, to learn about Big Issue, share stories with our reporters and alert the team to topics you feel that Big Issue should be covering. This will be at PWSHG Centre, 10am-5pm, Monday to Wednesday.

A five-a-side football tournament will also be held in memory of much-loved Big Issue vendor Mark Richards, who died last year after more than a decade selling the magazine on Cardiff’s Queen Street. The Mark Richards Memorial Football Tournament, taking place at Gôl Cardiff on the evening on Tuesday 13 May, will raise funds for the Street Football Wales team to attend the Homeless World Cup in Oslo this August. Over 16s from any background or ability are invited to enter teams into the tournament.

There will also be an employer networking brunch on 14 May, run by Big Issue’s person-centred recruitment service Big Issue Recruit. On-street activity during the week will explain more about our vendor sales opportunities.

The roadshow, sponsored by Wales & West Housing Association, will culminate with the Big Issue Big Debate – a Question Time-style live event open to the people of Cardiff to come armed with questions and ideas for a panel of experts and community leaders to consider. Chaired by Big Issue UK editor Paul McNamee, the panel will include local figures from the worlds of business, culture, politics and grassroots leadership. Big Issue founder Lord John Bird is also set to join.

The Big Debate will be held on the evening of Wednesday 14 May at Cornerstone in Cardiff and is completely free to attend. Panellists will be announced in the days and weeks leading up to the Roadshow. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite.

Editor McNamee said: “Big Issue is born of the streets and works, at our core, by listening to those we exist to serve. Our Big Community Roadshows allow us to get closer to the action, and we’re very excited to be bringing it to Cardiff this May. We’ve got a great series of activities in store, made possible thanks to our brilliant sponsor Wales & West Housing Association.

“It’s coming up to 10 years since the Future Generations Bill was passed in Wales; a different way to see the future that has helped shape Big Issue’s own view in recent years. Over the course of our visit, we want to engage with every level of society – from politicians and community leaders to business and the general public – to try to understand the issues facing South Wales a decade on from this landmark bill, and to celebrate some of inspiring community-led action already making a difference.”

Catherine Parsons, managing director of the Big Issue Changing Lives Community Interest Company, said: “The Big Community Roadshow gives us the opportunity to showcase the support on offer for people who are struggling right now. From our vendor model helping people in extreme poverty earn an income, to our person-centred recruitment service Big Issue Recruit, which engages people facing barriers to work find sustainable work and creates partnerships with like-minded employers.”

The Big Community Roadshow is sponsored by Wales & West Housing Association. It comes to Cardiff from Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 May.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.