Welcome to Big Issue's Big Community

For 33 years the Big Issue Group has worked to create opportunities for people affected by poverty across the UK. We have been both safety net and a vital platform for those on the margins of society as they rebuild their lives. Over time, we have also grown to invest in other organisations committed to ending poverty.

But it’s become increasingly clear that we need to do more.

In Britain today one in five people are living in poverty and a staggering 3.8 million people live in extreme poverty and struggle to feed, clothe, and keep themselves warm. This number is rising – destitution has more than doubled in the last seven years. Poverty is out of control, and governments have failed to act swiftly enough. This is a crisis affecting our neighbours, friends, and family members. We refuse to accept this. 

To get to grips with the mood of the nation, particularly following the summer of riots right in the heart of our communities, we teamed up with YouGov to commission new research and get a clear picture of where the nation sits. Over half of UK adults polled said they thought the government wasn’t doing enough for people in poverty. That’s a high level of disgruntlement.

More telling was the finding that 69% of respondents felt that local issues can be best addressed when individuals and organisations work together to address them. It’s increasingly clear that top-down solutions are unlikely to come. Dark warnings from Keir Starmer about fiscal black holes mean there will be less national investment. As things progress, a devolution of control to local areas is more and more likely.

And so, Big Issue Group plans for the future coalesced around one clear realisation – it is within the communities and grassroots that the future will be built. There can be no reliance on top-down governmental organisations, but rather local people, businesses and organisations, uniting to create solutions with collective action, that will offer hope of reversing the poverty crisis and building foundational change. And then build pressure on governments to properly act rather than provide sticking plaster short-term solutions.

Welcome to Big Issue’s Big Community. We have three parts to this: the Community Roadshow, the Big Issue Membership scheme and our new Poverty Zero policy call.

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The Big Issue Community Roadshow

Over the next year, we will head into communities that have not experienced essential social and economic growth – not through lack of local desire or will, but because they were not front of the queue for delivery on political promises. The roadshows will get under the skin of the challenges that local communities face. They will showcase how Big Issue’s journalism, magazine vending, recruitment programmes and social investment can transform lives. We believe the only way to bring change is to listen to those in the middle of things and seek solutions. We will highlight the unique role local people and social enterprises can play in fixing them. Our first stop will be Newcastle where we will have a series of events from 1 October.

Poverty Zero

At the heart of the poverty crisis is the shameful growth of destitution. To combat this, we’re calling for the government to make urgent and lasting change, through a Poverty Zero law that requires every government to set targets to reduce poverty, which they would be legally accountable to – as with Net Zero. The government’s first target should be to eradicate destitution by 2035. We will aim to achieve this through our call for MPs to become End Poverty Champions and through Lord Bird’s Ministry of Poverty Prevention Private Members’ Bill. You too can become involved in growing this essential push.

Details of our campaign can be found here

Big Issue community membership scheme

From today, right now, there is a new way to support our work – by becoming a Big Issue Member. By doing so, you enable us to create solutions to unlock opportunities for millions of vulnerable people impacted by poverty. We do this through our campaigning work and growing awareness of support services and work readiness programmes to lift people out of poverty. Members will receive a welcome pack, quarterly newsletter, guide to taking action in your community and digital invite to our annual poverty summit.

Become a Big Issue member and help us create real, lasting solutions to the poverty crisis, and show those in power that the public demands an end to poverty for good. Membership starts from just £5 a month. 

Find out more and sign up as a member today

“Poverty is out of control,” said Big Issue founder John Bird, “and our politicians repeatedly fail to act fast enough. We refuse to accept this. A new Poverty Zero law would hold their feet to the fire. “If you too are outraged by this country’s poverty crisis, stand with us. Become a member of Big Issue and show those in power that we won’t put up with their inaction. 

“It’s not all bad news. Our poll shows people still believe in the power of community and working together to achieve change. That’s why, for the first time, we’re taking Big Issue on the road. We want to bring local people together and support communities to tackle poverty head-on.”

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.