Caitlyn Barnes

The Big Issue “Hand up not a Handout”

 The Big Issue started in 1991 by John Bird and

Gordon Roddick.
 It was a magazine only to be sold on the streets in
order to help those living in poverty.
 It’s made by professionals, sold by the homeless.
 vendors buy magazines at £1.25, sell it for £2.50 and keep the profit.
 The magazine is a social enterprise – business solutions to social
problems.
 The company has profits ploughed into it to keep it working
 It has a trustworthy appeal, catching the attention of George Michael and
Stone Roses, who came to them to help.
 Has a reputation for access and attitude.
 They’ve had politicians and prime ministers listen to them.
 They went global – selling copies all over the world in countries like Japan
and South Africa.
 It’s become a street paper revolution, changing thousands of lives.
 The vendors learn marketing and social skills, but also allows them to
keep their dignity as they feel like they have something to offer instead of
begging for people’s spare change.
 This decreases the number of suicides and drug/alcohol abuse in the
homeless society.
 Since 1991, over 200 million copies have been sold in the UK alone.
 They have an online store, where trade companies with a social purpose
can consult to sell their products.
 John Bird is now in the House of Lords campaigning on a political level.

The Big Issue has helped thousands of homeless people, everyone

involved is slowly helping to dismantle poverty, including everyone who
buys the magazine. They’re enabling a difference to the people that
desperately need it.