The Big Issue

The Big Issue magazine is a British news and entertainment weekly that is sold on the streets of the nation by the homeless and vulnerably housed. It was established in 1991 by John Bird to present those at the very margins of society with a means of making a legitimate living. It has remained a hugely potent force for almost 21 years.
In a unique set-up, the vendor buys the magazine from The Big issue for £1.25 and sells for £2.50. In a digital mechanism, we will be able to direct much more money to a central pot from where it will be used to provide essential support for homeless men and women.
Every week, The Big Issue magazine brings some of the biggest names in showbiz, sport and business and has them open up in the way other publications can’t. It has regular must-reads, such as our Letter To My Younger Self, in which well-known faces offer their 16 year old selves words of advice considering what they know now. Sir Paul McCartney, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Tracey Emin have been amongst the array of names.
We have regular contributions from people affected by homeless and we have columns from names including controversial footballer Joey Barton, society commentator Rachel Johnson celebrated writer Robert MacFarlane and veteran foreign correspondent John Simpson.

The magazine is proudly non-party aligned. It holds all those who abuse their positions of power to account. We are highbrow populist, a smart, irreverent voice of the people, up from the streets.