The Big Issue is an organisation made up of two parts that work together to help homeless, vulnerably housed and those in financial difficulty to earn a legitimate income and move themselves away from poverty. The Big Issue Company supplies vendors with the tools they need to start their own business buying a current affairs magazine for £1.25 and selling it for £2.50. The Big Issue Foundation, which is the charity arm of the Big Issue offers support to our vendors in four key areas: Housing, Health, Finance, and Aspirations. The Big Issue offers a hand up, not a hand out.
The Big Issue Company and The Big Issue Foundation work alongside each other to offer vendors a way out of poverty. To do this we sell them magazines, offer sales training and do our best to keep close ties with the community to create the best environment in which they can sell their product. The Foundation is on hand to signpost vendors to the services they need. The main objective of The Big Issue is to help people to help themselves, and therefore The Big Issue is supportive and encourages self motivation in all help given.
