Homeless Not Helpless!

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 70 pence and sell for £1.50, thereby earning 80 pence 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 2500 homeless and vulnerably housed people across the country. The magazine is read by over 670,000 people every week throughout the UK*.

Who are the vendors?
Our vendors are people who are homeless or vulnerably housed, who are earning a legitimate income through selling The Big Issue South West magazine.

What is in the magazine?
The Big Issue South West combines hard edged current affairs with entertainment, social and general interest features. There is also a well
read jobs section every week.

How does it work?
The vendors buy the magazine from us for 50% of the cover price. They then sell it on to the general public. The vendors are given badges, assigned pitches and have to adhere to a strict code of conduct. Our workers help vendors access services to assist them back into a home and a normal life.

How can you help us?
All we ask is that you buy the magazine.

Our vendors say:

“I don’t want something for nothing and would rather people bought the magazine than gave me money.”

“By buying a magazine money comes back into the organisation, enabling us to continue improving our product and the services we offer.”