NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015
NEWSLETTER SPRING 2016
TO LIVE AND LE ARN
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p1 / SPRING 2016
OUR SUPPORT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT
NEWSLETTER SPRING 2016
CONTENTS Next Chapter With Harry Potter 03 Amy blazes a trail at King's Cross station Oh, What A Night! 04 The 6th Big Night Walk: a step in the right direction A Week In The Life 06 Bournemouth service broker Liam Fitzmaurice Never Too Late To Learn 08 Cover star June on her quest for knowledge "My Life Would Never Take A Turn Like That ..." 10 RBS bankers become Big Issue vendors for a day News From Around The Country 12 Love stories, corporate placements and cameras Snap Happy 14 Vendor Carlos has a photo exhibition London To Amsterdam Bike Ride 16 Are you up for a two-day Euro-cycle?
St Paul's Cathedral by Carlos Gonzalez Perez, p14
WWW.BIGISSUE.ORG.UK/NEWSLETTER Cover photograph: Magnus Arrevad The Big Issue Foundation is dedicated to the wellbeing of Big Issue vendors and we work with over 2,186 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.
3rd Floor, 113-115 Fonthill Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3HH Tel: 0207 526 3454 www.bigissue.org.uk Email: foundation@bigissue.com www.twitter.com/TBIF www.facebook.com/TheBigIssueFoundation Registered Charity No. 1049077
Imagine, for a moment, the things you might lose on your journey to the streets. The very things that help you hold it together, that are precious, are but distant memories. Imagine then that you decide to start your own business, to trade your way back into the world, reclaim what you can of your past and start to build for your new future. You begin by buying and selling The Big Issue. Investing your cash and your personality into a product. You put on the famous red tabard and hold up your copies of the current week’s magazine. Sadly, some do not see a newsagent without a shop, some just see a homeless person with a piece of A4 paper; a representative of the idle, the feckless, the worthless; only worthy of contempt and our general disdain. We are the Big Issue Foundation and we’re here to help our vendors overcome the barriers they face, the constraints that hold them back and the attitudes that can make each person’s onward journey all the more tough to achieve. This newsletter highlights some of the incredible achievements of our vendors and the personal strengths of people such as June Fullerton, people who work so hard to re-enter mainstream society. We celebrate the achievements of our amazing Night Walk participants, the activities of our corporate friends, and the creativity of our vendors, alongside, as always, news from around the country. I say celebrate not in a naive or shallow sense – we celebrate because there is much to recognise and it's all made possible only through the generous support of our friends. In this newsletter, we showcase a week in the life of one of our service brokers, Liam Fitzmaurice. Liam does sterling work, work that is funded through your financial support. We thought you would like to see what your donations help us to achieve. These achievements are worthy of note. They are made in an increasingly tough environment. Mental health issues, homelessness and benefit sanctions are unhappy bedfellows. We are meeting people who are deemed physically fit to work but are struggling to cope with the weight of their personal issues. There appears to be an increasing tendency to sanction first and then sort out the problem via appeal. People are ‘falling through the cracks’ because they are unable to ‘jump through the hoops’, have no cash, and turn to The Big Issue to help them survive. Add in issues around access to affordable housing; lettings companies focusing on employed tenants due to ‘mitigating’ risk; managing a tenancy if and when you have one; accessing mainstream healthcare; and you can see the challenges our vendors face moving forward. Our teams are working with individuals, some of whom have mental health, substance misuse, offending and homelessness issues all happening at once. We offer quality advocacy to our vendors due to the positive relationships we hold with them. More doors are knocked on, options are offered, and positive outcomes gained. This takes time, but putting the hard work in at the start means vendors feel they are in safe hands and are being supported. This sense of ‘support’ is critical and it is only through your own support that we are able to offer this. Thank you for all that you have done and will do in the future. I hope this newsletter shows you how worthwhile your belief truly is.
UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: IF you wish to unsubscribe from our postal newsletters please call 0207 526 3454 or email foundation@bigissue.com Stephen Robertson, chief executive, The Big Issue Foundation THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p2 / SPRING 2016
NEXT
CHAPTER WITH
HARRY POTTER
A
fter a successful pilot at Euston station, in association with Network Rail and Big Issue vendor Amy Stevens, we are now replicating this model at King’s Cross station. From Thursday 24 March 2016 Amy is selling The Big Issue inside the main concourse at King’s Cross; located by the Harry Potter Platform 9 and ¾. Initially, Amy’s placement will be six days a week, Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 4pm. Do please support Amy, and this initiative, by purchasing your Big Issue magazine from her. Laura Murphy, station manager at King's Cross, commented: “We haven’t had anything like this at King’s Cross since the station was redeveloped, we’re really excited to welcome Amy and the Big Issue team.” The vendors are the eyes and ears on the ground and add to the safety and security of the station as well as being there to enhance the customer experience through signposting and offering directions. The vendor benefits from being in a safe and sheltered environment and a sense of belonging to a wider team in the form of staff at Network Rail and other retailers at the station. The Euston pilot was a tremendous success; including Amy participating in Network Rail’s passenger assistance team to develop her employment skills. Amy, who is incredibly excited about this new chapter, told the Big Issue Foundation: “I have had a great time selling at Euston station and would like to thank everybody for being so friendly. I particularly enjoyed working with the passenger assistance team and doing things I would never normally do. I’m really looking forward to getting started at King’s Cross and selling the magazine just by Platform 9 and ¾ and the Harry Potter shop. It will be interesting to see how the different stations work and meet the new people there”. Amy will hand over the baton to a new Big Issue vendor at Euston, who will continue to sell the magazine to some of Amy’s regular customers. With the support of Network Rail, we are looking to expand this model to Liverpool Street station in the near future.
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p3 / SPRING 2016
Owen Baily
Vendor Amy is going to be working her magic at King's Cross
OH, WHAT A NIGHT!
Poetry, singing and speeches inspired the walkers on our sixth Big Night Walk through the centre of London
O
n a clear evening on Friday 11 March, 300 walkers and Big Issue vendors gathered at St John’s Church, Waterloo, for the 6th Big London Night Walk. The night started off with an inspiring performance from London City Voices and speeches from Egghead’s TV star CJ de Mooi, author James Bowen, and one of the first Big Issue vendors, Stan. Walkers had their fill of a range of amazing food and drink donated by London Tea and Vita Coco, and bananas from Abel & Cole.
Walkers were greeted by former vendors Joel and Viv, who shared their inspiring stories of success from selling the magazine. Current vendors, including Andre and Pat, joined walkers for the whole night to share their experiences of The Big Issue along the way. Sean, Bill and Andy from Oxford, Bournemouth and Birmingham also joined the walkers, reminding participants that the Big Issue Foundation works to change lives outside of the capital too. Sixth-form students and teachers from Ringwood School were at the start line
full of energy and enthusiasm after meeting Big Issue vendor George and joining the crowds in a warm-up to Eye of the Tiger, before heading off at 10pm with a spring in their step, ready for adventure. Heading west to Vauxhall, the first stop for walkers was the Beaconsfield arts centre, where they were treated to a short play about social housing from the On The Button theatre company. Newly formed Pamban were on hand to serve their delicious chai tea and Change Please served their warming coffee to walkers. Moving into the West End,
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p4 / SPRING 2016
"at 5.30 am our
final walkers showed up e xhil ar ated to have completed the challenge "
THANK YOUS • The 70 volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the night and made it all happen • St John’s Church for being our fantastic start and finish point • The establishments who opened their doors and hosted a rest stop • The supporting companies who generously donated food, drinks, prizes and time including London Tea, Hilton, Goody Good Stuff and City Harvest • The wonderful performers who entertained the walkers • Top fundraiser Daniel Goddfrey who raised a staggering £3,500 • Photographers Andy Commons, Travis Hodges and Sam Bush • Mark Bowsher and Maik Kleinschmidt from Rabbit Island Productions for making a video on the night. rabbitislandproductions. co.uk
walkers took a stop at Central London Samaritans, where they enjoyed snacks courtesy of Perkier and found out more about how the Samaritans and the Big Issue Foundation are working together to support Big Issue vendors. Heading through the deserted streets of the City’s financial district, walkers next rested at St James’s Church, Islington. Sustenance was provided by Urban Fruit, and walkers enjoyed a special display about James Bowen and Street Cat Bob. With just a few miles left to walk, spoken word performers
from the Roundhouse Poetry Collective and spoken word star Deanna Rodger were on hand at Shoreditch Town Hall to entertain our weary walkers and give them a much-needed final push. An energy boost came from Primal Pantry’s paleo bars. At 1.45am the first walkers started to arrive back at St John’s Church, Waterloo, where they were rewarded with a medal, goodie bag and cheers from our wonderful volunteers. Walkers were also treated to a delicious breakfast courtesy of Benugo and Konditor & Cook. Come 5.30am and our last
walkers had returned, after experiencing the final beautiful views over the Millennium Bridge, tired but exhilarated to have completed their challenge. Those unable to join the walk were treated to video highlights on social media by fantastic digital agency Cult LDN, who took over our social media channels for the night. We were absolutely delighted to hear so much positive feedback on the night and are looking forward to running the event again in 2017. You can register your interest in joining next year's event at www.bigissue.org.uk/walk.
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p5 / SPRING 2016
• Fudge animation for making our amazing Night Walk advert • Helen Hoff and Ringwood School for joining the walk for a third year • Cult LDN for social media content and coverage of #BigNightWalk • Special thanks to Cj de Mooi, Stan Burridge and James Bowen and Street Cat Bob
A W EEK IN T HE L IF E
OF LIAM FITZMAURICE, SERVICE BROKER MOND AY
My busiest and favourite day as it offers the opportunity to connect with the vendors in the office at the start of the new weekly magazine. My day starts with the team, booking pitches, selling magazines and discussing with vendors any issues that may have occurred over the weekend. We have quite a few new vendors who need a lot of encouragement and support. Midmorning I meet with Kevin to support him with accessing the VSF fund to gain ID (birth certificate) and then take him to Bournemouth Coastal credit union to open a bank account. Kevin is currently rough sleeping but wants to start saving towards a deposit for private rented accommodation. At 2pm I take our new volunteer Heather into Bournemouth town centre to introduce her to the vendors and show her our designated pitches. Heather really enjoys meeting the vendors and is looking forward to completing her induction.
T UE SD AY
Multi-agency meeting with the community mental health team and PAS housing and a vendor to resolve ongoing housing issues and mental health problems. My colleagues and I are interviewed by a former vendor who is currently studying English at Bournemouth uni, as the subject for the assignment is The Big Issue, which is very close to his heart; it was lovely to catch up with Paul and see how well he is doing and hear how he is really enjoying being at university even though he is finding the workload difficult.
W EDNE SD AY
I attend a monthly multi-agency meeting at Bournemouth council with other services focusing on 10 core rough sleepers in Bournemouth and discussing ways in which we can engage and support them to access housing services. On Wednesday afternoon as an office we like to mainly focus on getting out to see vendors on pitch as this can encourage them to speak more freely in their own environment. This also helps to have a visible presence within the community.
T HUR SD AY
I take two vendors to Bournemouth University and carry out an all-day humanisation workshop with 2nd-year nursing students. This isn’t only valuable in raising issues around homelessness, The Big Issue and the Big Issue Foundation but the vendors get paid for their time. It’s a long day but very rewarding as the vendors really enjoy sharing their experiences of how the foundation has supported them in moving forward with their lives.
F R ID AY
I have our community mental health homeless lead worker Melissa run a mental health drop-in service to support our vendors with ongoing mental health support. Mike, our local PCSO, is also here talking to vendors and making sure that they do not have any problems; it’s a very busy office this morning. We are planning in the office for one of the Big Issue Foundation themed weeks, which will be focusing on all things aspirational; we have already booked in the National Careers Advice Service to hold a drop-in for our vendors and are planning other ways within the team that will encourage our vendors to think about what aspirations they may have and how we can support them in achieving their goals.
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p6 / SPRING 2016
M O N D AY I S A LWAYS M Y BUSIEST AND FAVO U R I T E D AY A S I C AT C H U P W I T H S TA F F AND VENDORS
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p7 / SPRING 2016
NE VER TOO L ATE TO LE ARN Bournemouth vendor June Fullerton's drive for self-improvement knows no bounds
M
y name is Jane Fullerton, I’m 59 and I’ve been a Big Issue vendor since November 2011. I first heard about The Big Issue when John Bird was talking about it on the radio. My husband had passed away a year earlier, I was living on my own, I was unemployed, and I thought: do I or don’t I? I decided to go for it, and I haven’t looked back since. I work four days a week on a pitch in Bournemouth town centre, and I really enjoy it. It gives me a reason to get up and get out of the house. I have met so many people since starting and had a lot of laughs. It’s different every day; you have good days and you have bad days but it’s all worth it in the end as I get so much out of it, and when I’m having a bad day I can always come into the office for a cup of tea and a chat. I can also have my dog Jack with me. I inherited him five months ago because his previous owner was mistreating him. He’s good as gold and very friendly. I thoroughly enjoy my job but getting enough money together to pay the bills is a challenge. Richard, a qualified accountant who volunteers with the Big Issue Foundation, has been a great help in terms of getting my finances back on track. In 2013 I started to meet with him monthly to work on a budgeting plan, and late last year Richard and the Citizens Advice Bureau supported me through the process to obtain a Debt Relief Order to clear my personal
debt. I am now completely debt-free. Once the bills are sorted, any additional money I earn I save for things like giving my family a great Christmas or to put aside for a rainy day. I have five children, all grown up, twenty grandchildren and two great-grandchildren with another one on the way. I don’t work on Wednesdays as this is the day when I go to college to do my Level 3 English classes. I’ve already passed Levels 1 and 2; I have dyslexia and this course helps me with my reading and writing. I’ve always had a thirst for learning and with the support of the Big Issue Foundation’s Vendor Support Fund (VSF), I’ve done a lot of different courses to further develop myself. In 2012 I completed a computer course and a photography course. In early 2013, I started an NVQ Level 2 in customer service. I wanted to add this qualification to my CV (which the foundation supported me to write) to improve my employment prospects and find mainstream employment. It’s also taught me how to communicate more effectively with my customers and has improved my confidence in selling The Big Issue. In 2013 I passed a Level 2 Door Supervision course and shortly after wanted to take on a course to be an SIA Approved Door Supervisor, with the aim of finally gaining mainstream employment. Being self-employed meant I wasn’t entitled to any statutory funding and being on a tight budget due to housing, council tax costs THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p8 / SPRING 2016
and living expenses meant I needed financial support. Once again the Big Issue Foundation, through the VSF, supported me with 80% towards the course fees (£245) and I paid the other 20% (£49). I completed the SIA-approved qualification on the Saturday after TBIF Health Week – I’m sure that completing the first aid course during Health Week had a large part to play in enabling me to qualify as a Door Supervisor. I have been working on my pitch for five years now and I am more than ready to get a ‘proper job’. I went for a door supervisor job interview recently, which Liam helped me prepare for, but unfortunately I didn’t get it. I’m not sure why, it may be the stigma behind me being a Big Issue seller, but I remain positive. I really hope I can get a good job in the area. If I don’t, I will keep working towards that goal. I am so thankful for the wonderful support from the Big Issue Foundation, its donors and my customers – you have all helped me rebuild my life. Liam, service broker in Bournemouth, said: “June's always shown a great drive towards self-improvement. I'm sure with her resilience and determination she will get back into mainstream employment.” Bournemouth and Poole College assessor Roger Anthony said: “It was a pleasure to work with June, the level of personal commitment demonstrated was fantastic, despite any personal issues she may have.”
SIMON CHILCOTT, AREA SERVICES MANAGER, ON VENDOR JUNE With a small team in Bournemouth we support our often very diverse vendors to move forward in their personal journeys by focusing on the varying needs that brought them to us. Empowering June to take control in many areas of her life has been a pleasure; from day one June took the opportunity to create her own earnings and work with our in-house budgeting volunteer supporting her to manage her own finances. When the opportunity arose for vendors to gain an NVQ in customer service, June and several other vendors jumped at the opportunity and completed the NVQ over several months. Speaking of jumping, June has always offered to support the Big Issue Foundation in its events and even jumped out of a plane with a team of fundraisers to raise much-needed funds for the Big Issue Foundation. Currently June is trying hard to access mainstream employment, which itself can be a challenge, but still she strives forward, with the bespoke advice and support from our team she continues onwards. June’s story is a testament to the hard work of our teams, supporting vendors striving towards and often achieving their goals. This is one of the most important and fulfilling part of our roles. THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p9 / SPRING 2016
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p10 / SPRING 2016
“M Y LIFE WOULD NE VER TAKE A TURN LIKE THAT… WOULD IT ? ”
Photography by Dawn Marie Jones
O
Teams from RBS found out what it is like to sell The Big Issue, and learned a few lessons along the way
n 10 March, directors, bank and mortgage Managers at RBS, one of the oldest banks in the UK, took part in our most recent vendor day to help raise awareness of the Big Issue Foundation’s work and see first-hand some of the problems that Big Issue vendors face on a daily basis and learn about their resilience and sales strategies. Our vendor days offer unique opportunities for participants to experience our work, meet our people and understand our approach, which often prompts them to reflect on their own prior judgments and perceptions. Spending a day on the streets working alongside Big Issue vendors is an incredibly insightful experience, Bank Manager Charlotte Kujawski, shares her experience with us: “I’m a banker. By nature we are competitive, motivated, driven but not as bad as we are all made out to be. I manage the bank in a high street similar to yours; you could pop in any time for a coffee and find that I’m actually human. I never imagined I would see the day that I was on the street selling The Big Issue. Preconceptions told me I would never be a beggar, an addict or a 'social degenerate' such as those found peddling their Big Issues on our city streets. My life would never take a turn like that … would it? Standing on a crowded pavement, Big Issue in hand, attempting to get the attention of the passers by, and desperately hoping to sell a copy. How did I end up here? In a few short hours life had taken a different meaning. Work had now become the difference between food and shelter, something I previously had taken for granted. I and 20 of my colleagues from RBS were experiencing the loneliness of a vendor’s life. Area/regional directors, bank and mortgage managers, on the street, trying to get you to notice us. Selling the magazine with the vendors on their pitch, listening to tales about broken relationships, sofa surfing, alcoholism and
drug addiction – these were not the daily office conversations we were used to. I personally listened to the heart-wrenching tale from a vendor who grew up with a family of alcoholics, which meant turning to the streets was a safer place to be. Better than facing a home with drunken parents and the next beating. Customary red jacket on and a stack of the latest copies, the feeling of vulnerability washed over me as I set out to my pitch at Cannon Street. I became anonymous, invisible. It was bitterly cold despite the bright sunshine that I was so grateful to see that morning. I raised my head to catch the eye of a passer-by, long enough to make us both feel uncomfortable before our eyes part and he scurries into the coffee shop to avoid interacting with me. The door closes and condensation-filled glass obscures my view.
"on a crowded
pavement trying desper ately to sell a copy. how did i end up here ? " Warmth, comfort, an overpriced coffee. It's amazing what simple things you can long for when you have nothing. Then something wonderful happened, a stranger locks my eyes and approaches with a smile, he takes a magical £2.50 from his pocket and warmly asks me what this week’s edition is all about. A simple act of kindness and a precious £1.25 profit in my pocket. My confidence in human nature restored. For everyone that walked on by there were others who kindly declined with a smile and a warm wish, each human touch a spur to make me determined to sell every copy that I had. I am a businesswoman, selling my copies to make a profit. Only, my profit is the difference THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p11 / SPRING 2016
between survival and a fate I couldn't bring myself to consider. We spent two hours alongside our vendors selling the magazine in London. Each of us determined to take the glory of the ‘most sales of the day’. Some of us began apprehensive at what lay ahead, all determined we were taking on this task to make a difference. We spent the morning selling and the afternoon discussing our experiences. A meeting filled with emotion took place. We had set out that morning to make a difference, give something back. The truth was, our vendors, their tales and their experiences shared with us, is what made the difference. A lesson to us the bankers, greater than any difference we could have made to our Big Issue vendors that day. In short, we took much more away than we gave. We left exhausted after one morning, the vendors can do this seven days a week come rain or shine. We felt thankful and determined to remove the stereotypes we are all so guilty of. I returned home to my family that night. I spent time with the ones that I love, without my phone attached to my hand, thankful for the fire in front of me, the roof over my head, the full stomach I had and the coffee in my hand. The Big Issue experience left a legacy for us all that we can return back to again and again when we need to realise our privileged life. We made a promise, we will buy a copy when we see a vendor, we will stop for a chat and we will be grateful for everything we have.” By Charlotte Kujawski, Bank Manager, Future Wiliams & Glyn Team, RBS We warmly thank the team at RBS, in particular Nikki Gandhi and John Chadwick, who have played a vital part in our partnership with RBS, and Charlotte Kujawski for writing the article on the RBS vendor day experience. If you would like to learn more about how our vendor days are run, please contact our Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy, Serena Crisp on serena.crisp@bigissue.com, 020 7526 3452
LONDON
We have seen great developments with our supported pitch opportunities provided by corporate organisations and Network Rail. Working with two large law firms, Freshfields and Simmons & Simmons, and the investment bank Northern Trust, we are able to provide fully supported six-month placements where vendors sell magazines inside the firms' offices one day a week and benefit from a development plan to improve skills or receive therapeutic development. We have expanded our pilot of Big Issue pitches inside Network Rail stations to include Euston, King’s Cross and Liverpool Street. Train stations have always proved tempting territory for non-authorised vendors. Having a legitimate and authorised vendor has provided an opportunity that benefits both the vendor and the station.
OXFORD
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY LOVE STORIES, CORPORATE PLACEMENTS AND VENDORS ACTING AS DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHERS: IT’S ALL HAPPENING AT THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION AROUND THE UK
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p12 / SPRING 2016
Big Issue vendor Steve has moved back to be near his family and a new job after eight years of selling The Big Issue. We’ve watched and supported Steve’s progression from street-homeless and drug-dependant to housed and drug-free. Successes like this are what makes your support and our work so worthwhile. In March, two of our vendors were sponsored to take part in and help out at the Big London Night Walk. Lionel and Sean completed the walk with Sean’s new puppy. Our volunteer Mair also supported the walk. This was her second event for The Big Issue this year after her personal skydive challenge. A big well done and thank you to all.
BATH AND BRISTOL
The Big Issue Foundation Bristol was part of the city-wide Homelessness Awareness Week. We worked closely with other agencies to raise awareness of what services are doing to help people, and how the public can help us. It was a very successful week and we struck up some really good partnerships with organisations who will be getting involved with our Aspirations Week. Also, massive congratulations to our vendor Jack whose love story made headlines around the world, and who tied the knot in March. In Bath, The Big Issue and the Foundation organised a photographic exhibition at Bath Central library after two students, Luke Macnab and Millie Flemington-Clare, wanted to do projects with us. Luke, an architectural student, gave disposable cameras to vendors to take photos of buildings and spaces important to them. Millie is a student at Beechen Cliff School studying photography, and she photographed the vendors, producing beautiful black and white portraits. The exhibition was called Familiar Faces, Familiar Spaces and the opening on Tuesday 23 February was attended by the mayor and covered by the Bath Chronicle.
R IGH T T IME , R IGH T PL ACE
Vendor Terry benefited from a placement at law firm Freshfields, giving him a fresh perspective Big Issue vendor Terry has now completed his six-month placement at Freshfields law firm and has handed his corporate placement over to Easton. Our corporate vendor placements are designed for people who are selling The Big Issue and facing barriers, financial and/or social. The placement lasts for six months and connects vendors with host companies that provide a pitch where the vendor can sell the magazine one day a week and involves the following up of an agreed personal develop plan using our existing outcomefocused assessment tool. The programme helps those who have experienced homelessness to progress towards their personal goals whether these are accessing employment, training or increasing their wellbeing by experiencing selling the magazine in a different setting where the skills needed differ from selling on a street pitch. The placements can offer a range of opportunities depending of what needs and aspirations the participants have. They can offer the opportunity to refresh skills, access training and career guidance, and support from the host company internal teams with improving CVs, providing references, improving self-esteem or strengthening structure and forward planning. Terry said: “During my placement, I was offered work experience in the post room. It was a real highlight and something different and I got to meet great people! I really have enjoyed meeting all the staff, it gave me a real idea of what it’s like working in an office. "I enjoy sharing this experience with my customers at my regular pitch when they ask me how I’m getting on. Ever since my placement at Freshfields, I have felt a lot of improvements. In particular, my confidence has developed a great deal. I have lots to talk about with my customers. Everything about it has helped me. It’s not just about the extra money, it’s more about the people."
DORSET AND HAMPSHIRE
In Bournemouth, our in-house NHS community mental health team drop-in has been running throughout the winter; both Melissa and the office feel this service is really helping our vendors. One hard-toengage vendor was housed in supported accommodation and another granted a local connection by Bournemouth council due to complex mental-health needs. The start of the year we completed two presentation sessions to Bournemouth University social care department, to 28 adult nurses. The sessions were led by a service broker and two Bournemouth vendors. The feedback was excellent and another three presentations are now booked for April and May. This not only raises the profile of the Big Issue mission, but the vendors leading the presentations are paid by the university for the session. We have been focusing on outreaching vendors on their pitches, and agencies selling the magazine in the Dorset and Hampshire area. Both Salisbury and Winchester have distribution points that vendors can access magazines from. From building a partnership with services at the distribution points and from outreaching these vendors, we have achieved many positive outcomes, most recently several vendors taking advantage of the Vendor Support Fund to purchase much-needed official identification. Our service broker completed a presentation at a key homeless services meeting, speaking about The Big Issue, explaining the service broker role and how The Big Issue may be able to help their clients and how their services could be beneficial to supporting our vendors. This will hopefully achieve closer partnerships, streamlining any new referrals from the Big Issue Foundation.
WEST MIDLANDS
The Big Issue is a key partner in the network working to tackle complex needs within the West Midlands as well as gather evidence and inform on best practices at localised and national social policy level: the areas that we are working with and addressing are in mental health, offending, substance misuse and homelessness. Vendors are referred into the service and offered support in addressing the problems and issues they may be facing. Service brokers directly liaise with lead workers and peer mentors to make sure referrals are productive in tackling these issues.
OUR VENDORS WERE GIVEN CAMERAS TO TAKE PHOTOS OF BUILDINGS NOTTINGHAM
Our part-time service broker, Rebecca, has continued to work collaboratively with a range of other support agencies in Nottingham with a focus on helping to reduce the levels of street drinking and begging. We aim to do this by placing an emphasis on introducing The Big Issue as a legitimate way of making an income at the same time as being supported to access treatment for addictions. Meanwhile, our fortnightly veterinary drop-in has been very popular as it’s often the only opportunity that vendors can get to ensure their four-legged companions are fit and healthy.
THANK YOU TO George Anderson, vendor and distribution franchisee
Manager, and team at Simmons & Simmons
Carolyn Aitchison, Big Issue Foundation trustee
Juliet Holden, CR Executive, and team, at Freshfields
Bath Central Library, the Mayor of Bath and Greggs in Bath
Anna Yallup, Community Affairs, and team, at Northern Trust
Joanna Perry, CR & Diversity
John Chadwick, Cavendish Square
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p13 / SPRING 2016
Chris Ball and Team Daventry Jason Manley, Station Specialist at Network Rail Network Rail, at Euston, King's Cross and Liverpool Street Stations Inspector Gareth Morris at West Midlands Police
Volunteer Mair Davies Alex our ESOL tutor in Birmingham for her continued support Changing Futures and The No Wrong Door Network in Birmingham Otis Carey at Citizen Coaching
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SNAP HAPPY
3
Big Issue vendor Carlos on his photo exhibition at Roast
B
ig Issue vendor Carlos Gonzalez Perez is holding a photography exhibition at Roast, the landmark British restaurant in London’s Borough Market, until September. Roast like to use their large walls to exhibit works from people who they feel share an affinity with their values or exploration and authenticity. Born in 1976 in Spain, Carlos left his hometown Palencia at a young age. Led by curiosity and an insatiable thirst to explore the world, Carlos turned traveling into a lifestyle. Living and working intermittently in London for over 15 years, his unique style of photography attests to this nomadic, unattached way of living. Inhabiting spaces discarded by others, Carlos developed a unique eye for the everyday. Paying meticulous attention to composition, he uses his camera as a painter uses a canvas. Light, shade, textures and materials, all are captured in the moment as tributes to the energy of the city and its human life. No filters are used, no effects are added and nothing is digitally altered: "Since my childhood, I have been searching for other ways of seeing, travelling extensively, always trying to learn from my interactions with new people and new environments. This way of life led me to photography and my photographic style. It has allowed me to get closer to communities and subjects that are important to me. An urban nomad and a self-taught photographer, my approach to photography has evolved in a very particular way, forcing a clearer sense of
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1. Lloyd’s Building, London Also known as the Inside-Out building. 2. St Paul’s Cathedral, London In a sort of natural double exposure, St Paul’s Cathedral is reflected twice. 3. Westminster Abbey, London Smooth oily water reflects the Abbey.
what I want to achieve: a space where the constellation of many possible meetings and encounters can come alive together in a moment. Drawing on my intuition, I use the camera purely as a means of exploring what I see with my own eyes. I use no digital manipulation, distortion lenses or double exposure as creative tools. I want to show the viewer other realities that already exist. One does not have to manipulate them, only change the way we look. Over the years I have been able to delve deeper and
" i have been
se arching for other ways of seeing "
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p14 / SPRING 2016
discover other layers of realities. This allowed me to dissolve the boundaries of different spaces into one. I like to play with the viewer's perceptions of what they think they are seeing to make them question the authenticity of their visual perceptions. Nothing is real and everything is real; nothing has boundaries and yet we ourselves are boundaries. Identity is and is not, and the opposite but a force field of many others. I try to capture the natural and, at the same time, unnatural juxtapositions in our lives; a reminder, I hope, of the uncertainty and fragility of our existence. Roast: The Floral Hall, Stoney St, London SE1 1TL. The exhibition: REALITY: Things are not what they seem, but neither are they otherwise. www.roast-restaurant.com www.carlosphotography.com
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THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p16 / SPRING 2016
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