NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
PL ATFORM CHANGE THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p1 / WINTER 2015
FOR
MAKING A LIVING IS JUST THE BEGINNING
NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
CONTENTS Voyage of Discovery 03 How a trip abroad changed Mick Dillon's life Many Happy Returns 04 Big 20th birthday celebrations for the Foundation! Just the Ticket 06 How vending at Euston station is a platform for change A Week in the Life ... 08 Why area service manager Matthew loves his job Cooking up a Storm 10 One vendor who started a catering social enterprise The Giving and the Receiving 11 A volunteer's insight into homelessness Big Issue News 14 John Bird becomes a crossbench peer The Big London Night Walk 16 The Big Issue Foundation's Big Night Walk is back!
A tiny piece of art – Big Issue vendor George, painted on a piece of discarded chewing gum by Ben Wilson (Chewing Gum Ben)
WWW.BIGISSUE.ORG.UK/NEWSLETTER Photography: Magnus Arrevad; except p4/5 Andy Commons, p10 Sean Malyon, p16 Travis Hodges The Big Issue Foundation is dedicated to the wellbeing of Big Issue vendors and we work with over 2,200 individuals across the UK. Our skilled Service Brokers work one-to-one with vendors, creating bespoke life action plans with a core self-help ethos, to tackle issues ranging from health and accommodation through to money management and aspirations. The Big Issue Foundation is about taking control, moving forward, gaining independence and rebuilding lives.
1-5 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, London, SW8 2LN Tel: 0207 526 3454 www.bigissue.org.uk Email: foundation@bigissue.com www.twitter.com/TBIF www.facebook.com/TheBigIssueFoundation Registered Charity No. 1049077 UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: If you wish to unsubscribe or subscribe to e-newsletters please email foundation@bigissue.com or call 0207 526 3458
When someone walks through the door of one of our offices they will be facing many issues. Extreme social and financial exclusion of course means that individuals will be highly likely to experience periods of homelessness. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. What would you do if you faced such challenges? Our response is unique; the first thing that we do for someone is give them the opportunity to start their own business. To get up, go to work and begin a personal journey away from the crisis that brought them through our door in the first place. We all know in life that making a living is just the beginning. Having a home, your health, some cash and some confidence means that you can build a life outside of work. We are the Big Issue Foundation and, with the help of people just like you, we are here to support our vendors. This newsletter celebrates many things, our vendors, partners, our birthday and our services. Most importantly, it celebrates the journeys that we have enabled and the lives we have helped change. Our vendors come from all walks of life. Last year alone we worked with well over 2,200 people and helped them take over 5,800 positive steps forward at an average fully cost-recovered price of just £150 a go. I am proud that we offer a high impact, low cost model of transformation. I’d argue that the access we enjoy as citizens to private land, such as shopping centres and train stations, is often on the basis of our ability to buy things. People who are homeless, who are in poverty, are not permitted the same rights of access as the rest of us because, amongst other things, they do not have the power to buy. The Big Issue offers the power of trade and when understood, this can help change minds and grant access. This newsletter features vendor Amy Stevens, our first female vendor on the private land at London Euston. With the open-minded support of the train-line team and our London service guys, things are beginning to change. Amy is doing far more than just trading, she’s work shadowing, changing attitudes, guiding people towards their own destinations. Amy is on her own journey, as is Ian, on page 10, who is spicing up his life with his own catering social enterprise. Both are working hard towards the future. This newsletter profiles our London services team. This sounds grand, their work is exceptional but two full-time & one part-time staff cannot easily cover all the work that’s needed in the capital. We need to be funded to be able to do more. Readying for referral, pre-employability support, sorting out lives and offering a hand up; this is what we do and what we have done for over 20 years. Throughout this time, each step along each pathway has been enabled by our friends, by our supporters, by you. Our work is vital. This latest newsletter highlights the many ways that you can get involved and help us do more. The daily challenges we face can be intense. Everyone can be an activist in this space, so thank you for this support. It means more to everyone than I can ever hope to sum up in a few paragraphs.
Stephen Robertson Chief Executive, The Big Issue Foundation
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p2 / WINTER 2015
Mick (centre) with Susannah and Tom from the Big Issue Foundation
VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
Vendor Mick Dillon had one aim in his life: to reconnect with his mum and his family. Owen Baily An emotional trip to Spain has now brought them all back together
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n our spring newsletter we shared Mick’s story, a Big Issue seller from Birmingham. Mick was on a journey to make peace with his past and look to the future. The Big Issue Foundation supported Mick in getting a passport so that he could be reunited with his mum in Tenerife after 27 years apart. We are happy to report that last June, Mick, along with his brother and sister, travelled to Spain and reconnected with his family. This trip allowed Mick to finally bring peace to a part of his life and end a lifetime of questions. Susannah, service broker in Birmingham, recalls the moments leading up to his holiday: “When the countdown to the holiday was at nine days, Mick couldn’t believe it was 1 June already. He was getting himself organized – he had already saved money in his bank account for his trip, because he wants to be able to buy a round of drinks for the family and contribute to day trips they’re planning. “Mick really looks like any weight he was carrying on his shoulders in the past has very much lifted. He kisses the picture of his mum on his phone (which his sister saved as his screensaver for him) every morning and every night when he goes to bed. However, Mick doesn’t want her number as he wants the first time they speak to be face to face.” It took 11 months of planning, with the support and interventions by the Big Issue Foundation, social services and Mick’s family, to enable Mick to come this far. During this time, he has
managed to redevelop his home into a place which is now safe, clean and beneficial for his wellbeing. Mick has also improved his financial management in the process, saving for this holiday through his Big Issue earnings. Now, after reconnecting with his mother, Mick has taken a huge step forward by improving his social networks with his family. The first thing Mick wants to say is: “I want to thank the Big Issue so much, and Emma the police officer who signed my passport form.” He continues: “This wasn’t a holiday, it was a pilgrimage. I now feel at peace, knowing that I’ve now got a family. I’m part of a family now, which I haven’t been for 52 years. "This was a massive gathering of family I never knew I had. There was so much love and so many tears, tears of joy that brought us back together. We have all made a pact that we’ll never be torn apart again. We decided we are going to aim for meeting up on the same date next year, maybe even for Christmas if we can.” “Vendors such as Mick, and their stories, are the most important part of our job,” says Tom Belte, area services manager for the Midlands and Oxfordshire. “It is incredible what can be achieved by our vendors with the right mindset and the right help.” There are definitely better things ahead for Mick, he can now keep moving forward, and start the next chapter of his life.
" this wasn ' t a holiday, it was a pilgrimage . i now feel at pe ace knowing i ' ve got a family "
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p3 / WINTER 2015
MANY HAPPY RETURNS OLD FRIENDS AND FORMER VENDORS CAME BACK TO PARTY WITH SUPPORTERS AND STAFF TO CELEBRATE THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION’S 20TH BIRTHDAY
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n 22 October, the Big Issue Foundation celebrated its 20th birthday with a party at Fire nightclub in Vauxhall. Lucy Russell, a member of the magazine's founding team in 1991, spoke at the event explaining how she helped establish the Foundation in 1995, in part to support vendors directly but more significantly, to act as a broker, helping vendors navigate the confusing jumble of bureaucracy to better access charities and services. Red was, as ever, our motif: Big Issue vendors having become a familiar, reassuring feature of the landscape, especially in London: red buses, red phone/mail boxes; us in our red tabards. At the same time, not everyone sees us that way. For many, we can fracture the city scene like glimpsed rats, club-footed pigeons or urban foxes, visitations from the terrifying unknowable feral darkness surrounding this fragile glittering web of civilization! A great part of The Big Issue's mission is to challenge this stereotype of otherness that haunts the homeless, especially those on the street. That is what makes Big Issue
vendor George's immortalisation – painted in chewing gum on a house brick by internationally acclaimed artist Ben Wilson (see photo, p2) so fitting: something literally chewed up, spat out and trodden on by society reclaimed and made precious: saved like Stan Burridge, former vendor who told us about his work with Pathway, a team at University College Hospital London, aimed at improving healthcare for the homeless; saved like fellow partygoer, author and former vendor James Bowen, who
" the big issue
foundation was set up to help vendors get bet ter access to charities and services " shared his story with us. James and his cat Bob have become world famous: a film that charts their journey from the lonely streets to companionship and fame is due to come out next year.
Of course, the evening wasn't all speechifying: X Factor finalist Melanie Masson seduced us with hits like R.E.S.P.E.C.T and I Get by with a Little Help from my Friends. And there were dancers: members of Infinity8 – a London-based troupe – energetically performed their original, brilliantly choreographed showpiece Limitless. The group was fabulous and their enthusiasm was clearly infectious: when the DJ started, there was much general gyrating and merriment – captured on film both by Andy Commons, a photographer who often works with the Big Issue, and my fellow vendor/photographer Kevin Headley. It was great to see vendors and former vendors participating on so many levels – Sean Hodgkinson, Oxford vendor and enthusiastic fundraiser, was also a guest. Lead sponsor of the evening was Salt – a digital recruitment company which sees sense in the Big Issue's goal of challenging stereotypes. Edouard Cussinel, Salt's Director of Business Development, would like to reach a day when all Big Issue Vendors use smart technology to accept cashless payments: why should a vendor with a smartphone be reacted to as not “proper”, like a wild fox wearing an expensive dog collar? The party was well attended by Salt employees, as well as a solid contingent from MyLondonHome, which also sponsored the evening. Josh Spero – editor of Spear's magazine - displayed a rare gift for auctioneering, fetching high prices for lots, including a signed Arsenal football shirt and a commission for a piece by the artist Tagzee. Not forgetting our raffle, which really caught people's imaginations and raised over £1,000 – four women from Superlative Recruitment agency bought countless tickets between them – who wouldn't want to win an X-Box One or a luxury hotel stay in London Bridge? Altogether, the evening has raised over £12,180 so far. All the performers gave their time and considerable talent for free, and we would like to thank the guests for their generosity, and all the other contributors and sponsors – especially Carl Williams – for their generous support. By vendor Andre Rostant
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p4 / WINTER 2015
THANK YOU TO EACH ORGANISATION AND PERSON WHO MADE THE NIGHT A SUCCESS Salt MyLondonHome Carl Williams Dennis Publishing Melanie Masson Infinity8 Dance Fire, London Moku Beach London Cakes Lucie Russell Stan Burridge James Bowen Andy Commons Ben Wilson Tagzee East London Brewing Company Barclays All the volunteers and all the guests who came and celebrated with us
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p5 / WINTER 2015
JUST THE
TICKE T THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p6 / WINTER 2015
WHEN AMY STEVENS SECURED A PRIME PITCH AT EUSTON TRAIN STATION IT WAS A REWARD FOR THE TIME SHE SPENT BATTLING THROUGH JOB LOSS AND HOMELESSNESS. BUT SHE IS NOW READY FOR THE NEXT LEG OF HER JOURNEY
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came to London last year, in the summer, after I lost a job on the south coast. I had been working in a restaurant in the Butlin’s resort in Bognor Regis. You live on site, work on site, and with pubs, restaurants and shops on site, you never really have to leave. On Friday nights, I would get together with my boss and colleagues and drink and eat – basically you become really close and they become your family. Unfortunately, the company changed and they had to let go of some of the front-of-house people, including me. When you get hit like that, you don’t really know what to do. By the time I realised what was happening and that I should have looked for more work, it was too late. I was already homeless. I was really unhappy, being homeless in an area where I had no idea where I was going, where a day centre was, where I could find help and support – it was lonely and lifechanging. One day I met a Big Issue vendor selling in Chichester, on the south coast. I asked him if he was earning enough to eat – I wanted to work but I didn’t want to take it on and end up worse than I already was. After he reassured me, the thought came to me that if the Big Issue operates here, I bet they do it in London, I bet it’s bigger and I bet there are more opportunities. So I decided to come to London and start again. Coming to the big city, I thought the job prospects would be better. I tried to look for work, with no joy. The first six months were tough. I had to sleep rough for a time, which wasn’t easy and certainly wears you down. By now it was winter, I needed to get out of my situation. I remembered the Big Issue vendor in Chichester, so I went to the Big Issue office and got myself registered to sell the magazine. My first pitch was at Angel
and it wasn’t easy at first but I soon got into the swing of it. The Big Issue staff were great, helped me out with a few things, and I started to realise selling the magazine really suited me. It’s flexible work, it’s been helping me get my confidence back after a rough time and, of course, it gives me some money. Also, I really enjoy working outdoors with no boss standing over me telling me to do this or that. It’s never a slog, and with so many different people around, the days are always different. It’s broadened my horizons. I changed my pitch after a while to sell at Tower Hill. I enjoyed chatting to the tourists over there. They’re always in a good mood, not in a rush, and they really appreciate what’s around them. In the spring, the Big Issue Foundation gave me the chance to sell on a pitch at Euston station. It’s different to the other pitches as we need special permission to sell on the station concourse – it’s new, busy and can be overwhelming. Matthew from the Foundation offered so much support, education and stability to overcome the first hurdles I faced in this new environment. It’s a real honour to be chosen for the Euston pitch and it is great for the Big Issue to have a presence here. So many people have bought the magazine for the first time because of this pitch. I really enjoy working in the station environment, and everyone has been very supportive. I am finding the work experience with the mobility team really interesting and hope that it will help me to get a job in a similar role in the future. I’ve got a place to stay now, in a small flat in Wood Green, near Turnpike Lane in north London. It’s a lovely area, where I’m living. It’s quite leafy, with lots of parks. I’ve got a bit of stability and I hope I can keep it going by selling the magazine. Amy is on her pitch Monday to Saturday, from 11am to 8pm.
" i should have looked for more work . by the time
i re alised what was happening i was alre ady homeless "
Why Euston is happy to help We've had nothing but positive feedback since we started the trial pitch at Euston a year ago and Amy has become very miuch part of the team here. She is receiving training in our mobility assistance reception and is definitely developing into a highly valued team member. We're very proud that we could kickstart this initiative as it is of great benefit to both the Big Issue and Network Rail. I really hope that other managed stations take this opportunity to get involved. Rebecca Richards, Euston Station
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p7 / WINTER 2015
HO W V ENDING AT EUS T ON W OR KS "We approach vendors based on our working relationship with them and try to select vendors who are interested in making the most of the opportunity and perhaps interested in moving on to other areas of employment. An interest in trains is also helpful! We prepare vendors with a meet-andgreet tour of the station and key staff. This helps build confidence and the vendor knows what to expect. We also work on an action plan to establish some key objectives. Amy had demonstrated a commitment to working regular hours at her old pitch in Tower Hill and had also expressed an interest in getting a full-time job. We have been working with Amy in other areas of support including her engagement with a housing association and she is much more stable now and in a better position to pursue employment opportunities. Although we work with people in difficult situations, a lot of what we do is very positive. It’s great to work with vendors like Amy who respond to an opportunity and whose situation improves before your eyes.” Matt Morley, London area service manager
I A LWAYS E N J OY W O R K I N G O N T H E C O U N T E R W H E N W E A R E S H O R T-S TA F F E D , C AT C H I N G U P W I T H V E N D O R S M AT T H E W M O R L E Y
AREA SERVICE MANAGER, LONDON
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p8 / WINTER 2015
A W E E K I N T H E L I F E O F. . . M AT T H E W M O R L E Y AREA SERVICE MANAGER MOND AY
We are a relatively small vendor-facing team and I always enjoy working on the counter when we are short-staffed selling magazines to vendors and catching up with their news. While chatting with a vendor, a young man who had recently started with us came into the office and was quite upset. He explained he had been removed from a property by police and was homeless without any of his belongings. Also he was about to start some serious medical treatment. He had been subletting from someone who had no right to sublet. He had been turned away by the local authority because he could not prove his local connection with any paperwork. After an intervention with the local authority they agreed to place him in emergency accommodation while they assessed his situation.
T UE SD AY
I visited the House of Lords to attend a meeting with Vision Care for Homeless People, a charity that provides eye tests and glasses for people who can’t afford the costs. This could be a great service to engage our vendors with and complements a number of other partnerships we have developed.
W EDNE SD AY
For the purposes of accurate reporting I actually took today to catch up with an old friend who was on a flying visit to London. While having a coffee in Cavendish Square with my friend, a Big Issue vendor who I know quite well passed by. After exchanging a few pleasantries he moved on and this prompted a conversation with my friend about The Big Issue’s ethos of self-help, the fact that vendors buy their own magazines and the need for budgeting and routine. Five minutes later a notorious ‘rogue’ [fake] vendor turned up with a battered copy of The Big Issue that looked about a year old. He gave me a cursory nod and looked at my friend expectantly – the cheek!
T HUR SD AY
I met with our part-time service broker Lauren this morning who, along with her colleague Cynthia, deals with the induction of new vendors. Where possible we aim to make early interventions with vendors by referring them to local outreach teams, day centres of healthcare services etc. She was worried about a young man and we talked through some options. A short time later, the NHS mobile TB testing van arrived. The van has facilities to immediately test for a range of health problems faced by homeless people and staff gave us a tour of their brand new van. We look forward to engaging some vendors with this fantastic service.
F R ID AY
Today I visited the franchisee distributors at Waterloo and Liverpool Street. The franchisees are former vendors who sell magazines to vendors at different locations around London. I asked for feedback about the support we are providing on an outreach basis. We have a rota of open surgeries based at the distribution points for vendors to engage with our service broker, Sikira. Things are going well and we look forward to increasing the level of support we provide.
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p9 / WINTER 2015
COOKING UP A STORM Ian Duff combines selling The Big Issue with running a catering social enterprise. He says it’s ‘all about giving back’
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t’s been a long year for me with some highs and lows: the high was starting my social enterprise, Duff Cooks, and the low was the death of my father. I started Duff Cook’s as a means to give something back. It is a social enterprise to help the homeless and long-term unemployed learn to cook and how to eat well. I offer an at-home catering service and monies earned through this help me to teach people to cook. So far, I have run several drop-in sessions with the help of DHI Project, which have proved popular, but I want to expand to reach more people. I have catered for a handful of people who have enjoyed the experience: I come along to your house and I cook in your kitchen. I serve the meal and even do all the washing up for no charge. So that’s how simple it is, there are no charges until you finish your meal and unlike other catering firms, I cut the costs by using your kitchen plates and cutlery. In September, Duff Cooks hosted a hen party at a townhouse in Bath. On the menu was: tarragon chicken, hay-baked lamb rack, cod with pork belly.
Since Duff Cooks is a social enterprise, I asked a fellow vendor, Istvan, who has worked as a chef, to help with the prep and service for the evening, as he is keen to get back to working in the catering industry. The event was a great success, judging from the response the client sent me. This
" i te ach the homeless and long - term unemployed how to cook and e at well" is what Duff Cooks is all about. We help people cook and eat well, and also to get them back into the workplace. Istvan is a larger-than-life character. He is a hard worker and can take direction, which are both vital qualities for successful service. I am sure I'll use him again. Thanks go to Istvan. I’d also like to thank the Big Issue, who helped me make this possible. After losing my job and my home, when the company THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p10 / WINTER 2015
I worked for went bust, I had nowhere else to go and was homeless. Friends in Bath asked me to come and stay, so I came here. I have now been a vendor for five years and I love my job; it gets me out and it gives me the means to have my own income. I can also have my dog Boycie with me, who gets lots of love and treats on a daily basis … maybe a few too many treats! I’ve also had great support from the Big Issue Foundation, who helped me to set goals and helped with the cost of a fridge and a washing machine. In the last year, I have spoken at a variety of different organisations about the Big Issue. Everywhere we go, people are amazed: not only are we making an honest living, we are trying to move on from homelessness. It’s all about awareness. The most asked questions are: “Do you get the mag for free?” and “Do you have somewhere to live and, if you do, why are you still selling?” These are great questions and ones I love to give the answer to on a daily basis as it means people are interested in finding out more.
THE GIVING AND THE RECEIVING
Volunteer Molly took up a post and ended up learning a huge amount about the world we live in
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came across a fundraising volunteer post at the Big Issue Foundation by fluke, when I was looking for summer jobs. I didn't know much about the organisation but was worried about the levels of visible homelessness which, as a Londoner, I see every day. There is a wall of ignorance surrounding homelessness. My main reason for applying was to learn more about the situation, and to plug myself in to the networks that are doing something about it. To say that these hopes were fulfilled would be an understatement; after being welcomed warmly to the Foundation’s offices, I was given a range of tasks to introduce me to the operation. The first step was learning the difference between The Big Issue magazine and the Big Issue Foundation. Through the magazine, vendors retain dignity and independence through self-employment, but the Foundation connects them to a network of support and advice that homeless people are routinely excluded from and find hard to navigate. Quite quickly I felt more at ease acknowledging vendors, knowing they were not expecting me to help them but conducting a business. I hadn’t previously understood that the two most demeaning issues for those who are homeless are not lack of food and shelter, but
dependence and exclusion. The Big Issue Foundation makes a point of talking in terms of those who are “socially excluded” as this lies behind what we see as homelessness – whether rough sleeping or vulnerably housed or employed. Now, having a better understanding, I no longer concentrate helplessly on how awful it is to see people on the streets. Rather, I’m more aware of individuals, who deserve respect and who have different forms of vulnerability. This is not always as obvious as scruffy clothes and begging. Working on records from the
" there is a wall of ignor ance surrounding homelessness "
Big Issue Foundation project Sales and Money Week, I came to understand how simple, issues can deprive vendors of independence. The Foundation opens up a lot of opportunities: from financial advice workshops, to counselling and English Language tuition. The Foundation works with each vendor individually, so in my research I was reading about real people and their stories – not just statistics. I had the eye-opening experience of working at the front desk for a morning, selling magazines to
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p11 / WINTER 2015
vendors, distributing badges and chatting. Vendors take their professionalism seriously. One of the greatest public misunderstandings is that giving money and not taking the magazine will do just as well as actually buying the magazine, but it completely misses the point. Meanwhile, through fundraising research, I did learn a huge amount about the facts. Charities – rather like homelessness – often remain hidden, apart from a few overt manifestations. This insight showed me just how much is going on behind the scenes and how much society relies on the work of a network of impressive (often small) organisations. The impression I was left with was realistic, but optimistic. There are greater numbers of people than I’d imagined experiencing forms of homelessness, seeking asylum or struggling with poverty, without support. There are also many organisations trying to offer a hand up, and it was exciting to feel part of this wealth of activity. I’m about to start university and am hoping very much to continue my involvement. I’m certainly going to go and say hello to all my local vendors! If you would like to volunteer and become a part of the team at the Big Issue Foundation, please visit www.bigissue.org. uk/volunteer
LONDON
We celebrate the end of two significant eras in London. Firstly, long-term vendor Bean, who has been on a journey with us since the start, initially as a vendor, then a vendor co-ordinator, and more recently as a franchisee selling magazines to other vendors, leaves the Big Issue to take up a role with University College Hospital as a care navigator helping homeless people access healthcare and ongoing support. Bean has been working with the Pathway team at UCH for some time and has represented the Big Issue in many other partnerships too. Secondly, the vendor services team, who work directly with Big Issue vendors and whose work is funded by your donations, are moving from their base in Vauxhall to a new office in Finsbury Park. While we had some difficulty finding the right space, with the end of our lease looming, our move is now confirmed and we look forward to welcoming vendors to our new base. The Big Issue has been based in Vauxhall since 2001 from where we have sold 19 million magazines from our small HQ.
NOTTINGHAM
We have been busy in Nottingham establishing and strengthening links with many external agencies. This has included attending local multi-agency meetings to help ensure that our vendors are getting the best, most appropriate support. Links have been made with the British Red Cross and they are running an Everyday First Aid course for our vendors in Health Week in November. We have been involved in the yearly local Homeless Watch Survey, which helps to identify the needs of people who are homeless and to try and get an accurate figure for the number of people rough sleeping. Receiving good news from former vendors is always very rewarding and we have had regular contact from a former vendor who is doing extremely well – she is settled in her home, in contact with family members and is enjoying being a new mum. She is very grateful for the support she received at the Big Issue Foundation and is keen to keep us up to date on how well she is doing.
OXFORD
In Oxford, we have been concentrating our efforts on inspiring vendor progress through practical solutions; for example, we are helping a vendor enhance his CV through putting him forward for voluntary work and giving him new challenges that will better equip him for work. Through the use of motivational quotes and reminders of the vendor role, we are creating a more aspirational office setting. We have also set up a Vendor of the Month award to celebrate our vendors’ successes. Our first two winners have shown significant efforts in working towards their futures and received vouchers to help support these dreams.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY IT’S ALL HAPPENING AT THE BIG ISSUE, WITH VENDORS GETTING JOBS, TAKING NVQS AND LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p12 / WINTER 2015
F ROM P OV ER T Y T O PUR P O SE
John Bird (left) has been appointed as a crossbencher to the House of Lords, and will work for “social opportunity and social justice” The Big Issue is delighted to announce that its founder, John Bird, has been appointed to the House of Lords as an independent working peer in recognition of his work as a social entrepreneur who launched The Big Issue magazine, the Big Issue Foundation and Big Issue Invest. As a crossbencher, John will owe no allegiance to any political party and will take part in legislative debates free of the constraints of party politics. John’s appointment is based on his life experience of the matters closest to the heart of the Big Issue: social deprivation, poverty, prison and how sociallybased entrepreneurialism can make a real difference to lives. John said: “Mine will be a voice for the thousands of people the Big Issue has helped over the past 24 years and continues to help today through our philosophy of social entrepreneurialism based on self-help. “Sometimes the best thinkers, such as the Big Issue, are left outside the box. Yet if we are to have social opportunity and social justice for all, the thinking within the box needs to change.” John founded The Big Issue in 1991. Since then the magazine has put over £100 million directly into the pockets of homeless individuals, sold almost 200 million copies and has helped thousands of homeless people move away from poverty. In 1995, John launched the Big Issue Foundation, to support vendors in dealing with the issues around homelessness. Stephen Robertson, CEO of the Big Issue Foundation, says: “We are very excited about Lord Bird’s appointment, this is great news.” Baroness Morris of Yardley, who nominated John, said: “I’m delighted. John's work with members of our community who face considerable challenges means he will bring great experience and knowledge to the Lords. He has the tenacity to argue for what he believes to be the right way forward in key areas of social policy.”
WEST MIDLANDS
We currently run a fortnightly advice and guidance session for Big Issue vendors in Birmingham – this is provided by Birmingham Citizens Advice who provide support to vendors with finance matters; vendors are also helped to navigate self-employment registration support – this drop-in targets vendors with their financial aspirations as well as helping them to stay stable with their housing and sales and to be financially included.
BRISTOL AND BATH
With two new service brokers, the Bristol office is back to being a full team! We’ve had a busy few months: celebrating the birthday edition, we ran some sales training workshops and vendors who joined in were entered into a raffle with four being picked to go head to head with staff and volunteers at crazy golf! Vendors won and celebrated with a KFC. Meanwhile, back at the office we have been working with services across Bristol and invited Talking Money on outreach with us and had great success with follow-up appointments, meaning our vendors were given great advice on budgeting, setting up bank accounts and savings. With Health Week coming up in November we have more exciting collaborations to come. In Bath, six vendors took part, with a business volunteer from Mitie, in a social media session, producing a useful how-to guide for the new South West Twitter and Facebook pages. Matthew Nesbeth is a director/producer with a social conscience and created five short films of our Bath vendors, which were picked up by BBC Bristol and broadcast on local radio. He says: “It’s been a real privilege to have been given the opportunity to work with the vendors, who gave me their precious time.
I also can’t forget the Big Issue staff, especially Sam and volunteer Diana, who helped shape ideas and bridge the gap between myself and the contributors.”
DORSET AND HAMPSHIRE
With many new Big Issue vendors within the Dorset and Hampshire area struggling with mental health issues, we now have a new in-house clinic provided by the community mental health team in Bournemouth. We are still working with Bournemouth and Poole College, where vendors can obtain an NVQ in Customer Service while selling The Big Issue – one of our vendors, Janet, has just completed her NVQ and Sharon is halfway through. We have now obtained a new Big Issue distribution point in Winchester where vendors can access magazines; this has enabled us to work closer with local services and vendors in this outreach area. We are currently visiting local schools in the area and have already completed several presentations to students and teachers on how The Big Issue and Big Issue Foundation work together. At present, we are focusing on Health Week and have managed to secure health MOTs and flu vaccinations, and Live Well Dorset is providing health information for vendors. We have already received one kind donation of £100 towards health and hygiene products from a local Tesco store.
WE NOW HAVE A NEW IN-HOUSE MENTAL H E A LT H C L I N I C T H A N KS TO THE COMMUNITY M E N TA L H E A LT H T E A M
THANK YOU TO Fundraisers Amit Daryanani, Sarah Walters, Rebecca Sheffield and Daryl and Phoebe King Volunteers Molly Nickson, Harmanjit Sidhu, Anna ManettaStark, Tanya Das, Richard Pilgrim, Will Prince, Matthew Skipper, Bryony Littlefair
Photographers Magnus Arrevad and Andy Commons Georgia Harrison and Laura Hannan at PowaTag Adam Baetu at Email Marketing Now Lee Howard from West Midlands Police
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p13 / WINTER 2015
Giovanna at Pret A Manger
St Paul’s Hostel in Worcester
Seb Atkinson and Clare Britton at Selesti
Luke at the Citizens Advice bureau
Beks Richards at Network Rail
Reb Kean at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust
Mondelez International Suzanne Hill and Alex Taylor our ESOL tutors in Birmingham
The Salvation Army’s Way Ahead Project
I T 'S T IME T O GI V E YOURSEL F A BIG H A ND
We’ve heard a lot about our team of service brokers, fundraisers, vendors and volunteers, but there’s one important member of our team we haven’t mentioned yet: YOU!
We know that a Big Issue vendor who is being supported in their efforts to establish their financial stability will have the platform that creates the confidence and desire to access the support that they need – to deal with issues around personal banking, accommodation and healthcare; steps made possible through a person-centred, goal-oriented framework.
T H A NK YOU T O T HE 2 06 S UP P OR T ER S W HO C A ME A ND CEL EBR AT ED OUR 2 0 T H BIR T HD AY T HIS OC T OBER ; T OGE T HER W E R A ISED £12 ,180. Thanks to the loyal support of our friends and donors like you, our services are there to help Big Issue vendors with every step along the way.
T H A NK YOU T O T HE 3 91 DONOR S W HO S UP P OR T ED U S W I T H A GIF T F OR OUR S UMMER A P P E A L 2 015, HEL PING US R A ISE £13, 4 3 9. Since our appeal launch in July, our frontline staff, whom your donations helped fund, have worked with over 1,425 Big Issue vendors, enabling 57 vendors to find temporary/permanent accommodation, 39 to access health and addiction services, as well as supporting 27 vendors to achieve their personal aspirations. We were only able to achieve this with your generosity and support.
T H A NK YOU T O T HE 2 ,000 K NI T T ER S OV ER T HE L A S T T HR EE Y E A R S W HO
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p14 / WINTER 2015
H AV E GO T T HEIR NEEDL E S OU T F OR T HE BIG K NI TAT HON A ND R A ISED OV ER £ 2 2 ,500 . Thank you also to all those crafting and knitting for the Big Issue Foundation this November.
T H A NK YOU T O T HE 4 4 SL EE P E R S F OR TA K ING PA R T IN T HE BIG L ONDON SL EEP OU T. T H A NK S T O YOU W E ’ V E R A ISED A FA N TA S T IC T O TA L OF £13,6 7 6. The Big Issue is a community of people dedicated to society's most vulnerable. Staff, magazine buyers, volunteers, donors: we thank you all!
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TO DONATE ONLINE GO TO WWW.BIGISSUE.ORG.UK/DONATE TO DONATE VIA YOUR MOBILE PLEASE TEXT NEWS44 £10 TO 70077 TO DONATE OVER THE PHONE PLEASE CALL EMMA ON 0207 526 3454
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RETURN ADDRESS
Please return this completed form to our freepost address: RTRA-TSXJ-ZJGY The Big Issue Foundation, 1 - 5 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2LN
ONE STEP AHEAD THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION’S 'BIG LONDON NIGHT WALK' RETURNS ON 11 MARCH 2016
Homelessness is a big issue. In fact, the past few years have seen the biggest rise in homelessness in decades, especially in the capital. Nearly 100 people turn to the Big Issue each week, often at a time of extreme poverty and utter personal crisis. They’re looking for an opportunity to work for a better life. Those new to rough sleeping keep moving at night, they have to keep walking to keep safe. James Bowen, of Street Cat Bob fame, describes it as “a survival tactic”. That’s why the Big Issue Foundation hosts an annual Big London Night Walk, to helps people rediscover their city and connect to a challenge faced by people we are supporting. We pass iconic London sights at night, whilst learning more about homelessness and the lives of Big Issue vendors. “We thoroughly enjoyed the walk, speaking to the various vendors and seeing London in a different light (well, dark!). It really was a great experience.” Big Night Walk participant 2016.
J O I N U S and you’ll see the capital from a whole new perspective, hear eye-opening stories from Big Issue vendors and know that you’re supporting our fight against poverty and homelessness.
DATE & TIME
Friday 11 March 2016. Participants will meet at St John’s Church, Waterloo, at approximately 8.30pm. There will be a short briefing and some entertainment to get you energized before we set off around 10pm.
DISTANCE & DURATION
The route is 20km long, that’s just under 13 miles, and not far off a half-marathon. Hot drinks and snacks will be provided along the way at our rest stops. Your finish time will depend on how fast you walk, and how long you stop, but it’s likely to be between 2am and 5am.
FEE & FUNDRAISING
Registrations are open now until early March 2016. There is a £25 registration fee to join the walk, or just £20 per person in a group of five or more. We ask you to each pledge to raise a minimum of £200 to take part. All the money raised helps us extend our work on the streets, so we can employ more people to help more and more Big Issue vendors get connected and get away from the many things that keep them trapped in homelessness.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
The Big Night Walk is a chance to see London from a whole new perspective
W A L K W I T H U S ! T O R E G I S T E R V I S I T W W W. B I G I S S U E . O R G . U K / W A L K OR CALL 020 7526 3459
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p16 / WINTER 2015