Please take the magazine
“I’m surprised at how many people don’t take the magazine these days,” says Tim*, a Big Issue North vendor based in Manchester. “They come up and give me a quid or two and then walk off. I don’t mind,...
View ArticleDisabling barriers
19 per cent of our vendors identify as disabled, defined as having a long-term illness/health condition that limits their daily activity. Conditions include mental health issues, learning difficulties,...
View ArticleStatus low
While it is often understood that poverty can cause harm by depriving people of decent, safe housing and good nutrition, there is less widespread understanding of the impact of social inequality on...
View ArticleOverqualified
There has been an increase in the number of people with traditional education and employment backgrounds who have registered to become a Big Issue North vendor over the last few years. Although...
View ArticleYou change lives
The Big Issue is much more than a magazine. It is a lifeline for people who find themselves in a difficult financial situation, or who are struggling to find other employment. Vendors buy the...
View ArticleBig Issue North vendors excluded from opportunity to vote
On Wednesday 22 May, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the UK will go to the polls to vote for their next Member of Parliament – and the next Prime Minister – on 4 July. But for Big Issue North...
View ArticleThe Global Network
When you purchase a copy of The Big Issue each week from your local Big Issue North vendor, you may not realise you are part of a bigger, global movement. For the past 30 years, Big Issue North has...
View ArticleJust a number
Since the pandemic, there has been a drastic increase in the number of over-60s out of work. While losing your job can be difficult at any age, evidence shows that older people who lose their jobs are...
View ArticleFar from right
Across the UK, reports of racism, violence and riots are being documented. Following the murder of three children in Southport last week, far-right groups have been inciting vocal and violent protests,...
View ArticleLearning the language
Last week, a Big Issue North vendor accomplished a significant personal milestone. Vasile, who sells the magazine in York, learned how to write his name in English. As a Romanian national and Roma...
View ArticleOur 2025 calendar is here
This year, the calendar explores the north through vendors’ eyes. The North is on the up. Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool are revered as vibrant cultural landscapes—Manchester has been a UNESCO City...
View ArticleSocks with purpose
Big Issue North has once again partnered with celebrated Manchester artist Stanley Chow and sock specialists Stand4Socks to bring you a limited-edition series of cosy, festive socks with a charitable...
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