BACK ON TOP OF THE WORLD THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p1 / WINTER 2016
WE ARE HERE TO HELP PEOPLE CLIMB UP FROM ROCK BOTTOM
NEWSLETTER WINTER 2016
CONTENTS How A Law Firm Placement Brought Confidence Back 03 Paul makes the most of time with Simmons & Simmons Wellcome Change 04 Staff at The Wellcome Trust have a go at vending A Week In The Life 06 Bristol Service Broker Martha Luke Back On Top 08 Vendor Paul is ready to see his family again at Christmas Ride Of Your Life 10 Ten years of the London to Paris bike ride News From Around The Country 12 Wealth, health and happiness! Be A Daily Star 14 What you can do to help the Foundation every day A Stitch In Time 16 Vendor Rose takes part in the Big Knitathon
Ten years of the London to Paris bike ride, p10
WWW.BIGISSUE.ORG.UK/NEWSLETTERS Cover photograph: Magnus Arrevad The Big Issue Foundation’s mission as a UK charity for people experiencing social and financial exclusion, is to connect vendors with the vital support and personal solutions that enable them to rebuild their lives; to determine their own pathways to a better future. Our vision is to end poverty, homelessness and social exclusion. We do this by offering vulnerable people a holistic support package of work, support, and access to vital services. By empowering our beneficiaries to equip themselves with work and life skills, a home, healthcare, a reliable support network, and necessary every-day tools like a passport and bank account we get closer towards achieving our vision.
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 UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: IF you wish to unsubscribe from our postal newsletters please call 0207 526 3458 or email foundation@bigissue.com
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me": an old playground response to verbal bullying, a brave retort to those who wish to put you down, to punish you for something that comes from perceived difference and fear. Too frequently these differences stem from poverty, no money and poor life experiences leading to poor choices, addictions and mental health challenges, obstacles that can often mean that the only way is down. We are living in a shifting landscape, an environment in which the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is becoming a yawning chasm; a steep-sided abyss from which anyone would struggle to escape. So think for a moment what it must be like to hit literal and metaphorical rock bottom; to stand up, look up and begin to work your way out of the abyss into which you have fallen. ‘Winos’, ‘tramps’ and ‘meths drinkers’ – words that have disappeared from daily use, stigmatising stereotypes that are not now often applied to people experiencing homelessness. When you decide to become a Big Issue seller, the words ‘entrepreneur’ and ‘business person’ are not those that immediately spring to mind for the many that you will encounter as you ply your trade on the street. The language has changed but so much more needs to change. We are The Big Issue Foundation and we’re here, with your backing, to help vendors scale the challenges they face. Climbers come in all shapes and sizes; strength, resilience and endurance are required and choice plus sustainable change is the goal. We are here to help if you slip and fall back. We will equip you with the ‘chalk’ that you might need to help hold on along the way. The ascent is not easy but, as you gain altitude, you gain perspective. You can see further, have more strength and your personal landscape opens up around you. We have the ambition to ensure that our vendors get the best possible deal in business and in life. We want to ensure that each deal is personal, it is not for us to ‘tell’ you what you should do but it is for us to help you choose what you would like to do. The newsletter that you are holding in your hands highlights how we weave these strands into the ropes that support the journey ahead. I believe that you will agree Paul’s story (p8) is a testament that embodies the very spirit of transformation. This newsletter shows how your personal support and the support of your work colleagues and friends creates personal stories of change that inspire and give hope where hope was so often lost. There is much more to be done. We need to keep shifting the focus, changing the language, changing the landscape and improving the possibilities that will help eradicate the poverty that has bought us into being. This work is only made possible through the generosity and belief of our donors. Our work is independently funded and every gift is much needed. Please do accept my thanks and sincere appreciation for all that you have done and will go on to do. Wishing everyone a happy, warm and safe festive season and every strength for the winter months ahead.
Stephen Robertson, Chief Executive, The Big Issue Foundation
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p2 / WINTER 2016
HOW A LAW FIRM PLACEMENT BROUGHT CONFIDENCE BACK
F
or the eighth year running, Simmons & Simmons have participated in our Corporate Vendor Placement programme, where a Big Issue vendor joins the team at Simmons & Simmons' London offices to sell the magazine and participate in a work-shadowing programme to develop skills. Paul is the eighth vendor to participate. Paul, tell us a bit about yourself? I was born in England, and moved to Canada when I was eight; I lived there for 30 years and that’s where my accent comes from. I ended up coming back and found myself homeless. I started selling The Big Issue magazine in 2009. How long have you been with The Big Issue? It seems like a lifetime, but it’s been about seven years now. My last place of employment before I became homeless was working for one of the breweries in London, as a drayman, a person who delivers beer to all the pubs in the city. Why was it that you became involved with The Big Issue? It’s a headway to make a little bit of pocket money and to give yourself a bit of self-respect. And finally, what did you enjoy about your placement at Simmons & Simmons? It has been great to meet new people and to get to know them all. Ever since my placement, my confidence has developed a great deal. I’ve also spent some time in the company library developing my IT and blogging skills.
Owen Baily
Laura and Simon at Simmons & Simmons said: “Paul is a great ambassador for The Big Issue. He really embraced his time at Simmons. He is extremely well thought of. We look forward to seeing him at various events in the future. “Paul quickly found himself a place within the firm and, in an understated but effective way, brought home many of the issues which vendors face. The queue to buy the magazine demonstrated those in the firm gained from his presence.” The Simmons & Simmons Charitable Foundation also provides funding to allow The Big Issue Foundation to increase the scope of the Corporate Vendor Placement, allowing a greater number of vendors to participate. The firm continues to support The Big Issue Foundation with operational, corporate legal advice.
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p3 / WINTER 2016
Vendor Paul at Simmons & Simmons
WELLCOME CHANGE
I
The Wellcome Trust staff who sold the magazine alongside vendors tried some unusual sales techniques and ended up with an emotional experience
n July, 12 fantastic staff from The Wellcome Trust donned red jackets and took to the streets, alongside Big Issue vendors, to sell The Big Issue magazine. Chris Newstead, Head of Internal Communications at The Wellcome Trust shares his experience with us: Alongside a dozen colleagues, I approached a day’s volunteering at The Big Issue with a mix of trepidation, curiosity and enthusiasm. It was three extraordinary hours working someone else’s patch. To be honest, I didn’t quite know what I was signing up for, but I wanted to grab the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone (the office) and do something practical to support someone who’s homeless. Like every resident and commuter in London, we are
familiar with pavement life. Marketers pushing charity sign-ups, gym flyers and newspapers into our hands. A free can of drink as you pass through Victoria, helping to even out the injustice of receiving all that bumf. Mixed in, we also pass by those at knee level, begging for a living; occasionally acknowledging them with a cursory smile and even less frequently donating some change. And then, among them all, there are the Big Issue sellers – some 300-600 of them at any one moment in our capital. Most of us will have bought a conscience-appeasing copy at some point, or better still have committed to a regular purchase. We’ll have had a bit of banter and occasionally struck up a more everyday relationship-in-passing. THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p4 / WINTER 2016
ELLIE PINNE Y, THE W ELLCOME TRUS T NE X T S TEPS, SAYS:
"'PoSt-diGital content! when the wi-fi GoeS down you'll be PleaSed you bouGht a coPy,' i Shouted" But, what about actually stepping on to their patch and selling the magazine yourself? A bit weird, right? I mean, you’re not homeless. Well, first up we met Steve. He has been homeless since 1996, and selling The Big Issue for seven years. We listened to his story and his advice. All the while the penny slowly dropping that we weren’t his support crew for the day. We were going to be selling his magazines that he’d already invested in at the distribution point at £1.25 a copy. I can empathise for England, but it wasn’t until I actually stood on St Martins Lane with a dozen Big Issues in my hand that I felt it. 'It'
being the reality of the situation. The aloneness. The pressure. The vulnerability. And then I began to feel my identity being tugged away from me. And then I wanted to shout out … So I did. “Post-digital content! When the WI-FI goes down you’ll be pleased you bought a copy!” Well, it amused me. I’m not sure that particular line led to any sales but I was now at least engaging with the punters. Every single face a potential sale, every one worth an interjection, a smile. “Only £2.50 for the pretty ones! Yes, I’m looking at you, sir!” “A hand-up, not a handout!” And I carried on like that until mid-afternoon. Steve
As a lifelong Londoner, I’ve been aware of The Big Issue for years and often stop to buy the magazine, but I hadn’t fully understood its impact as a charity until our vendor day experience. I hadn’t realised the significance of The Big Issue's ‘hand-up, not a handout’ mentality. I was delighted when our board agreed to host a Big Issue vendor in our Euston Road offices a day a week. I was really excited to meet George before he started his placement. He’s absolutely lovely and fascinating to talk to, so I knew that he would fit in straight away – particularly as his biomedical background ties in perfectly with our work. As anticipated, George’s first day was a resounding success, and it was wonderful to see how many people stopped for a chat. The icing on the cake was George selling out of the 45 copies he’d brought with him…a fantastic target to beat next time!
THE DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & FACILITIES SAYS:
returned every 20 minutes or so with a nod of approval – and best of all a 99 with a flake, when I was starting to flag. A homeless man buying me an ice cream? Neither of us could have been more pleased. Three hours was the limit for us. Aching feet, aching arms, weathered faces and frankly people-exhaustion. For those of us who did shift some ‘books’ every sale had been like a way-point on a mountain climb – a moment’s elation and then carrying on up. One of us sold nothing at all, most of us pushed half a dozen copies, and someone managed a couple of dozen sales outside the National Portrait Gallery. (All about the generously-spirited bohemian footfall at that location we concluded – surely their patter was no better than ours?!) On reflection, it was a little bit like undertaking one of those sales tasks in an earlyseries episode of The Apprentice. A huge buzz from being dunked in at the deep end. And with it, lots of raw emotion. Once we’d given Steve all our takings, we walked back to Covent Garden and said our goodbyes, while he invested in another handful of magazines. My day was over, his wasn't. But my experience will live on. Humbling, eye-opening, exhilarating, and above all humanising. People are alright, you know. (Oh, and I almost forgot! We did get to meet Bob. Not sure what the secret is behind his winning pitch though and he wasn’t telling. But fair enough. He is a cat.)
Our first day with George was a resounding success, with lots of positive comments from staff and great support – both in buying the magazine and chatting to him about his interests in human health and biochemistry.
The Big Issue Foundation engages with companies in a range of ways. Partnerships support objectives across community, marketing, training and development, inclusion and diversity. As a small organisation with a big brand we are flexible and can tailor packages that meet your needs and support our vendors. This can include vendor day experiences, corporate vendor placements, corporate sponsorship, corporate subscriptions, bespoke events and more!
Thank you to Ellie and the directors of the Wellcome Trust for their belief in us as well as the wider team for making George feel so welcome.
If you would like further information about any of our corporate offerings please call 020 7526 3452 or email foundation@bigissue.com
A W EEK IN T HE L IF E
M ARTH A LUKE, SERVICE BROKER IN BRIS TOL MOND AY
Monday mornings we have a Romanian translation volunteer in to work with Romanian-speaking vendors. We also hold a GRT (Gypsy, Roma, Traveller) drop-in on this day with someone from Stand Against Racism and Inequality to support our GRT vendors in accessing the right services. After the drop-in we take a group of vendors down to Recovery College at St Mungos to enrol them on to ESOL classes. Last time we had six graduates and we’re hoping for more. In the afternoon we have two new people come to be badged up, and help with housing, debt, doctors and ID issues.
T UE SD AY
This morning one of our longterm vendors tells me he has not had enough money for gas or electricity for two months as his benefits have been stopped – he has put in an appeal but the housing association have sent him a first notice of possession. I ring Talking Money, they encourage us to attend their debt drop-in tomorrow morning. I attend a multi-agency meeting with police, council and other organisations about begging and people in financial crisis. That afternoon a colleague and I go out on outreach in the city centre engaging with people begging, inviting them into our office to find out more about vending.
W EDNE SD AY
I go straight to Talking Money where I meet the vendor from yesterday. He is booked into the next available benefit support slot and they contact his housing association and housing benefit. He is given a voucher for some
electricity and gas from the Energy Advice Team and a food bank voucher. From here I go for a meeting at the Bristol Drugs Project – I learn a lot, it is really productive and it’s great for me to build contacts.
T HUR SD AY
I have another translator in today to speak to Romanian-speaking vendors. A lady tells me her old landlord is not returning her deposit – I speak with Avon and Bristol Law Centre and we decide going to Shelter is the best option. After this, National Careers Service come in and do CVs for vendors who are looking to move on. From our reviews today we identify that many of our Roma vendors are not registered with GPs. I liaise with the Community Engagement Worker who runs a Roma drop-in to see what we can do about this and decide on organising a day dedicated to Big Issue Vendors attending the drop-in and receiving all the necessary information.
F R ID AY
Today I join another colleague Kate on a trip to Weston-SuperMare, at the moment we only have one vendor selling there but we would like to open up more pitches. We head straight to the local day centre and meet with the staff who are really happy we are building the area up again – there has been a sizable increase in rough sleepers there recently. We leave some posters and leaflets. We engage with some potential vendors, and one wants to be badged up straight away so we complete the induction, he gets his five free magazines (to get him started) and off he goes! We’ll be back early next week to see how he’s getting on.
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p6 / WINTER 2016
"ONE OF OUR VENDORS SAYS HE HASN'T HAD MONEY FOR GAS OR ELECTRICITY FOR TWO MONTHS"
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p7 / WINTER 2016
Paul found himself sleeping rough around the country, but with the help of The Big Issue Foundation has now got personal ID, a bank account and is ready to meet up with his family again
M
y name is Paul, I’ve been a Big Issue vendor for about two years now. My usual pitch is in Bristol, at Wine Street and Corn Street. It’s a busy area with loads of passers-by because of the market. It brings a lot more people down the street. The people have been friendly – I consider myself a good people person who makes friends easily, and a good salesman. I’ve got a lot of regular customers. I’m from the Midlands originally. I’d been working in a factory but I was made redundant and became homeless. Before I came to Bristol, I had travelled to Brighton to get away from it all. I sold the magazine there for about six months but it didn’t go as well as I had hoped. I was rough sleeping for about a year after I came to Bristol, in doorways, tunnels, the park – I’ve done the lot. There is a lot of homelessness in Bristol, a lot of new faces coming in every day. Eventually I got to a point where I felt like I needed to get my life back on track and thought selling The Big Issue magazine would allow me to do so. The Big Issue has been good for me because you’re earning your own cash, buying your own food and clothes, and managing your money. Last winter my boots had worn thin, but with the help of the Vendor Savings Scheme, I saved up £110 so I could purchase a pair of sensible, winter boots – this was a blessing in the cold months when I was rough sleeping.
Through The Big Issue Foundation, I accessed the Vendor Support Fund, which helped me get a driving licence so I had some ID to get into the backpackers’ hostel. They also helped me open a new bank account because I’d lost my cards. The hostel is OK for now – it’s a roof over my head. There are a lot of people and they’re very nice, but it’s still not a home. In May this year I saved up for my contribution to attend an Earn-a-bike workshop run by the Bristol Bike Project. I worked with a bike mechanic to refurbish a donated bike. I learnt how to build a bike from scratch, how to look after it. The greatest thing about it was that I got to keep the bike after that. I had the privilege of being selected to sell at the brand-new pitch at Glastonbury this summer. I was so excited, it was my first time there. It was great, but very muddy, and when the rain came it was difficult to sell. Luckily, there was some sunshine as well! I sold 150 magazines between Thursday evening and Sunday lunchtime, which was really good going. Normally it would take me about a week and a half to sell that many. I was staying on the campsite but I didn’t sleep much more than about an hour a night because there was so much going on. And because I went out dancing with The Big Issue people! So it was tiring but worth it. Glastonbury was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and I’m so grateful that I got the chance to go. In August, during Aspirations Week, a week dedicated to encouraging Big Issue vendors to think about their personal long-terms goals, The Big Issue Foundation took me and two other vendors to volunteer at Windmill City Farm. I enjoyed it so much, I signed up to be a gardening volunteer. I go there every Tuesday to help maintain the outdoor space, grow food, and farm. It’s really good for my mental wellbeing and I get to meet loads of different people. This Christmas, once again through the Vendor Support Fund, funded by donors like you, I will be going back to Leicester to spend Christmas with my family for the first time in over two years. I haven’t been in contact with them for a while now but I’m really excited and eagerly looking forward to spending some time with them all. All this has been made possible through your support, so thank you, I am eternally grateful.
BACK ON THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p8 / WINTER 2016
MARTHA LUKE, SERVICE BROKER, ON VENDOR PAUL
" i bouGht SenSible winteR bootS , which
weRe a bleSSinG when i waS SleePinG RouGh "
TOP THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p9 / WINTER 2016
When I first met Paul it was obvious he was in the right place in his life to start making some really positive changes. Our first step was ID: we got a birth certificate and then a provisional driving licence using the Vendor Support Fund so he could start sleeping in backpackers' hostels in the city rather than outside, which was having a detrimental effect on his health. We have also registered him with the local GP. Paul has always been a good seller but he needed somewhere safe to put his money – we were able to reactivate a bank account that he hadn’t accessed for years. Paul is now volunteering at Windmill Hill city farm after we took a group of vendors there during a themed week for an afternoon of volunteering. He is now an ongoing gardening volunteer, which is really great for his employability and more importantly his wellbeing. Housingwise we are still working hard to get him somewhere to call his own – he is linked with the St Mungo’s PAL workers who are helping him look for somewhere to rent and supporting him into independent living. I really believe with all the hard work Paul has put in and the progress we have seen it won’t be long until he gets this. I have really enjoyed working with Paul and I am so excited for him to be going home this Christmas to spend it with his family.
OF YOUR LIFE
IN 2 017 T HE BIG I S S UE F OUND AT ION L ONDON T O PA R I S BIC YCL E R IDE CE L E BR AT E S I T S 10 T H BIR T HD AY, A ND I S L OOK ING F OR F UNDR A I S E R S T O A DD T O T HE 14 5 ,000 MIL E S S UP P OR T E R S H AV E T O T T E D UP O V E R T HE Y E A R S
N
ext year will be the tenth anniversary of The Big Issue Foundation’s first London to Paris cycle ride, an event that has raised over half a million pounds and seen supporters ride over 145,000 miles for The Big Issue Foundation. The ride has seen Big Issue vendors Dean and Elliot fulfil their ambitions of cycling to Paris and James Bowen and Street Cat Bob appear at the start line. Next year, we’re hoping to raise £50,000 from the challenge and we’re looking for dedicated supporters to join the team and change the lives of Big Issue vendors. “Cycling from London to Paris has been the most exhilarating and enjoyable thing I have done,” said Anne, a previous participant. We’re looking for cyclists of all abilities to train and take part in this iconic ride. If you want to make friends for life and experience a once in a lifetime adventure, what are you waiting for? “You’ll be better for it! The achievement, the people and the work that you support by doing it will give you new energy,” said Stephen Robertson, CEO and a previous participant. It’s only £99 to register and there is a fundraising target of £1520. We have a brilliant team on hand to help you create a fundraising plan and to make it happen – food and accommodation is included on the ride. Book your place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment at: www.bigissue.org.uk/Paris. For more information you can call the events team on 020 7526 3459 or email events@bigissue.com. THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p10 / WINTER 2016
PHOTOGRAPHER: MAGNUS ARREVAD
RIDE
DAY 1
L ONDON T O C A L A I S Our challenge begins bright and early from south London, heading through rural Kent – the garden of England. Our path winds though traditional British countryside, along the North Downs Way, before we reach the white cliffs of Dover. The ferry takes us across to Calais and our first night's resting place. 95 miles (approx) DAY 2
C A L A I S T O A BBE V IL L E Stunning picturesque countryside awaits us in northern France as we travel south through some beautiful quaint villages. Cycle through Desvres, a market town known for its ceramics, and continue with the winding roads along the valley of the Canche River. We spend the night in Abbeville – steeped in history from the war. 75 miles (approx) DAY 3
A BBE V IL L E T O BE A U VA I S S Our route follows the River Somme, famous for its battles, and you cannot fail to be reminded of the thousands who lost their lives. But the Somme is also a Celtic word meaning tranquillity, which sums up the feeling of the day as you cycle through this superb region. We finish the day in Beauvais, where the market square, Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, is a true highlight. Several of the houses close to the cathedral date back from the 12th to the 16th centuries. 70 miles (approx) DAY 4
BE A U VA I S T O PA R I S Our final day of cycling and the big push to Paris. We are still treated to some stunning countryside including lunch in a wooded area next to the River Oise. We then near the outskirts of Paris and you will start to spot the familiar sights of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine. We cycle the last miles along some of the famous boulevards. Our finish point – the Eiffel Tower – can be seen for miles above the Paris skyline, and on arrival the celebrations can begin! 60 miles (approx) DAY 5
PA R I S T O L ONDON The day is yours to soak up the Parisian way of life, explore the city, and visit the landmarks that only yesterday you were cycling by. We will meet in the afternoon at the Gare du Nord to catch our Eurostar home, arriving at St Pancras where you will be reunited with your bike. THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p11 / WINTER 2016
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AN UNBELIEVABLY BUSY TIME AT THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION AROUND THE UK HAS SEEN EDUCATION, AWARDS, VOLUNTEERING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND MUCH MORE LONDON
Our offices are busy as ever this time of the year, but we are ready to tackle the holiday rush in full force. In preparation for the cold season we are aiming to reach out to as many of our vendors as possible and raise awareness about health services during Health Week. For those who are aware of the health problems they may have, it’s a good wake-up call, as for the others, prevention remains the best medicine. With the help of a new addition to our team, Ana, originally from Eastern Europe, it means vendors can access new
information, and a more intense and structured approach on future aspirations. For us, it facilitates access to a better cultural insight, often accompanied by a life story that would have been lost in translation otherwise. We therefore have a better chance at tailoring our interventions to needs.
BRISTOL & BATH
We have managed to get some great volunteer translators in Bristol so have been able to do loads of intensive work with our Romanian-speaking vendors. We have THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p12 / WINTER 2016
been holding a drop-in every Monday and have seen a great increase in our Roma vendors accessing relevant services. We had Sales and Money Week in the office where vendors were able to access budgeting workshops, legal advice and some additional sales training. We also took a group of vendors to Windmill Hill City Farm for an afternoon of volunteering – two signed up for long-term volunteering. We have also extended our region to Weston-Super-Mare and are in the middle of building this up, we hope to have five new vendors in the town soon. We have made some links with Citizen's Advice and the day centre there to recruit and support people. Recovery College has also launched this month and we have taken vendors down to enrol to access education and volunteering. We welcomed a new Service Broker in Bath at the start of November by the name of Lewis Stuart. Lewis has been a cover worker in Bath and Bristol since 2009, so has lots of experience working alongside Big Issue vendors.
DORSET AND HAMPSHIRE
Here in Dorset we have recently appointed a new member of staff (Stephen Fatuga) who will be working taking services out to vendors selling the magazine in Dorset and Hampshire. The new Service Broker and distribution staff will be working in partnership with agencies distributing the magazine. This post is complementing an existing service in Bournemouth working with over 60 vendors. In the Bournemouth office we held our Big Open Door open evening. This was attended by a mix of guests from members of the public, JP Morgan, local community groups, Bournemouth and Poole College and Bournemouth University’s head of regional community partnerships. In October we completed a week of activities working with Bournemouth
University for World Mental Health Week. One vendor has completed her NVQ level 2 in Customer Service from Bournemouth & Poole College. Well done Sharon. The Bournemouth office was also very busy planning a birthday party, celebrating 25 years of The Big Issue. The event saw children join parents for a range of activities, held at half-term. It included lots of fun activities promoting what we do and raising awareness.
PE A K F I T NE S S Health worker Melissa tells us why she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for the Big Issue Foundation September saw Bournemouth Health Worker Melissa take on Mount Kilimanjaro for The Big Issue Foundation. She works with the Foundation team as part of her role for Dorset Health Care as a Specialist Mental Health Practitioner for the Homeless: “Day to day my work involves working with individuals who are rough sleeping and also experiencing mental health illness. I work the majority of the time out in the community engaging with individuals and working alongside them to help reach their goals and support them with their mental health. I regularly combine my work with The Big Issue team to help individuals in their recovery journeys and hold fortnightly mental health drop-ins at the base in Bournemouth. At the drop-in I will engage and meet with individuals who want to access support and help for their mental health. I took on this challenge because I wanted to give something back to The Big Issue Foundation; I could see what a huge difference to individuals' lives donations made and I wanted to contribute to helping improve the quality of some of the individual lives I have been working with.” This is what inspired Melissa to take up the challenge and her hard work and dedication to training and fundraising saw her complete the trek and raise over £3,900 for The Big Issue Foundation. Melissa put on lots of events locally and secured the support of local shops and businesses in Bournemouth to help with her fundraising.
Support Fund to pay for cameras so they could document their lives. Images will be exhibited across Birmingham city centre. Vendor Ben came third in the competition with his image of vending in the city centre. We are jointly working with the No Wrong Door network, a key delivery strand of the Big Lottery-funded Birmingham Changing Futures Together. It is a group of organisations working together to help and support people with complex needs. No Wrong Door ensures service users can access a whole system of support through one referral. We are offering ‘taster sessions’ and have recruited an ex-vendor to offer guidance to new vendors.
V E N D O R S G O T A PA C K W I T H H AT S , G L O V E S A N D S O C K S , T O O T H B R U S H E S , NOTTINGHAM continue to be very busy at the T O O T H PA S T E A N D S O A P We Nottingham office coordinating the work OXFORD
In Oxford, we have been preparing for our annual Health Week. We've created packs of important information about local services and health advice and put these together with some health-related goodies! Our canvas bags have thermal hats, gloves and socks, they have toothbrushes, paste, soap and hand cream and some stationery items. Our Oxford vendors will receive a pack each and be invited to different free activities which include a haircut and health-signposting session, a breakfast and healthy eating advice, a lunch at a local mental health partner and various outreaches and drop-ins from providers.
WEST MIDLANDS
Six vendors participated in a photography competition to participate in World Homeless Day, part funded by the Vendor
with the vendors in the city and nearby areas. Joint work with other organisations continues to grow and develop and is absolutely key to linking our vendors in with appropriate services. We have trialled a drop-in at the office with Wellness in Mind, who provide information, advice and support for anyone experiencing difficulties with their mental health. We now have good links with them to ensure quick and appropriate access for our vendors. We work closely with the Homeless Health Team who provide outreach health care and were involved in the recent Tuberculosis Health Event which raised the awareness of the impact of TB and gave people the opportunity to speak to doctors and nurses about any concerns. This is particularly important for people who are homeless or living in unsuitable accommodation. We are thinking about how to keep our vendors as healthy as possible with the weather getting colder.
THANK YOU TO All the charitable trusts and foundations that so kindly support us
Ian and Wayne, West Midlands Fire Service, for their support to our vendors
Inspector Gareth Morris – West Midlands police
Incredible Melissa Scott in Bournemouth
SIFA Fireside & Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust (for the partnership work on ‘Street Spirit’)
James, Lush store manager in Oxford
Parveen Nar – Safer Communities Team
Giovanna at Pret-a-Manger in Oxford Oxford’s Daily Information for health bag goodies
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p13 / WINTER 2016
Anne from the Oxford branch of the Yoga Quota Charity Homeless Health Team in Nottingham Peter Barnes, Bristol Outreach volunteer – you’re amazing! Freshfields and Simmons & Simmons (for their generous financial investment into our services in London)
TBIF Trustees Pete Mills and Mark Dempster Network Rail (teams at Victoria, Waterloo, Euston, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, Bristol Temple Meads and Birmingham New Street), Wellcome, Gowling WLG, RBS, Dunnhumby, Northern Trust and CEB Global.
EB AY F OR CH A R I T Y
Want to get rid of unwanted items at the same time as raising vital funds for The Big Issue Foundation? eBay for charity auctions are the same as any other and just as easy to set up but you can choose to donate between 10% and 100% of the total selling price. Your auction gets a special charity ribbon to help it stand out from the crowd. To make your donation go even further you can select Gift Aid and the tax man will add an extra 25% to your donation at no extra cost to you. http://pages.ebay.co.uk/ ebayforcharity/sell.html or call 0345 355 3229
Things you can do every day to help The Big Issue Foundation do more for homeless people
R E C YCL E YOUR OL D C A R ! BOOK A TA BL E , R A ISE MONE Y
Did you know that you can help our wonderful cause by simply booking a restaurant in the UK? It is very easy to use: go to charitablebookings.org, find the restaurant you would like to book, call the restaurant as you would normally and confirm the booking and please select our charity – the restaurant will donate £1 per diner at no cost to you. If your restaurant is not on the site, do ask it to be added and hopefully the next time you want to go there it will be on board. It's simple and free, and works for corporate bookings and individuals. Eating out now supports our work with Big Issue vendors! www.charitablebookings.org/ charity/big-issue-foundation
SHOP ONL INE A ND S AV E
SE A RCH, S AV E A ND R A ISE
Savoo is an online fundraising platform that uses discount codes and web search (powered by Bing) to raise money for UK charities. Simply use Savoo Search as your default search engine (the same way as you would your current search engine) and Savoo will donate 1p for every search. If you’re looking to do some online shopping and want to get a great deal, Savoo has thousands of voucher codes and deals that will help you save money and they will donate to The Big Issue Foundation at the same time. www.savoo.co.uk
Raise money for us just by shopping online with thousands of stores. And the best part is you don't pay anything extra. You can shop for products from thousands of leading online retailers, use the price comparison tool to ensure you get the best price and even save money by using the exclusive offers and deals available on the site. A percentage of every purchase you make will be donated to The Big Issue Foundation, at no extra cost to you. www.give.as/charity/tbif or www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ causes/thebigissuefoundation
THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p14 / WINTER 2016
Have you got an old car to scrap? Scrap or sell your old car and raise money for The Big Issue Foundation – it's free! Giveacar and Charity Car are not-for-profit social enterprises that can turn your old car into cash for charity. They arrange free collections, then either sell your car or scrap it, with the proceeds raised going to your charity. Using a nationwide network of breakers' yards and salvage partners, they have handled the auction and disposal of over 8,000 vehicles so know how to raise the best donation possible whether your car is in perfect condition or not. If you need to get rid of an old car and would like to do some good at the same time, give them a call! www.charitycar.co.uk/the-bigissue-foundation 0844 669 6889 giveacar.co.uk/charities/ big-issue-foundation 0207 736 4242 TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS PLEASE CALL 020 7526 3458 OR EMAIL FOUNDATION@BIGISSUE.COM
YES, I WANT TO DO MORE TO HELP Email
Full Name Mr/Mrs/Ms Address
Postcode
We value your support and promise to respect your privacy! We would like to able to continue to contact you from time to time, to let you know about the effectiveness and impact your gifts is making possible and to share other ways to help The Big Issue Foundation in the fight against homelessness. You can change your mind about what you’d like to receive from us at any time. We will manage your data in accordance with the Data Protection Act. We do not and will not share your data with third parties. Tell us how to keep in touch with you: Post Yes o No o Phone Yes o No o Email Yes o No o
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION BY CHEQUE/VOUCHER/CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD Amount
Card number
£ Start date
MM
Expiry date
YY
MM
Signature
Security No.
Date
YY
I WOULD LIKE TO SET UP A MONTHLY REGULAR GIFT OF £5
£10
£20
Collection schedule: 1st
Other £
OR
15th
Starting
MM
YY
INSTRUCTION TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY TO PAY BY DIRECT DEBIT Full name and postal address of your bank/building society To: The Manager (insert bank name)
Bank/building society
Service user number
9
7
3
6
0
4
Reference (For official use only)
Bank Address
Postcode
Name(s) of account holder(s)
Instructions to your Bank or Building Society Please pay The Big Issue Foundation direct debits from the account detailed in this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with The Big Issue Foundation and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.
Branch sort code
Signature(s)
Bank/building Society account number
Date Banks and building societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some type of account.
Make your gift worth 25% more at no extra cost to you! like The Big Issue Foundation (TBIF) to reclaim the tax on all qualifying gifts of money I have made in the past, present o Iandwould on all future donations I make from this day forward until I notify you otherwise. I confirm that I am a UK Tax Payer and that if I pay less income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax to cover the amount that all the charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for each tax year (6th April to 5th April, currently 25p of tax for every £1 I donate), it is my responsibility to pay any difference.
o I am not a Tax Payer 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 KAREN ON 0207 526 3458
Thank you
RETURN ADDRESS Please return this completed form to our freepost address: FREEPOST RTTS-JGTR-LRYR, The Big Issue Foundation, 3rd Floor, 113-115 Fonthill Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3HH
A STITCH IN TIME November's Big Knitathon has given vendor Rose the chance to help her fellow Big Issue sellers
I
have been selling The Big Issue in Muswell Hill for about seven years. There are a lot of nice people around here and it has a nice villagey feel. I get all the gossip and I am a bit of a social worker too. My partner also sells The Big Issue in Muswell Hill. People like the fact that we are partners. We met through The Big Issue. John was my vendor in Cambridge. I used to cry on his shoulder and we started dating. My daughter has mental health issues, and my son died suddenly in an accident in 1999 when he was 17. I had terrible troubles with the benefits system. I couldn’t afford to pay for my place. They were hassling me to go out to work but I was a single parent with a mentally ill daughter, so I couldn’t have a fulltime job. I needed something I could do when my life allowed it. John said to me, “We need to get you badged up” and I started selling The Big Issue. He stood by me. It’s a lot for a bloke to take on. We moved to London in 2000 and have a one-bedroom housing
association flat in Holloway. It is nice to come up here to sell. We have Highgate Woods and Alexandra Palace nearby. I have Asperger’s, which wasn’t diagnosed for a long time. When I started selling I couldn’t look anybody
"i couldn 't have a fulltime job .
i needed one i could do when my life allowed it " in the eye. The Big Issue changed my life. It gave me confidence I never had growing up. John and I had a week in Weymouth one summer and people rang the office to check we were all right. It feels so nice to be part of the community. It’s also helped my confidence in getting involved with The Big Knitathon, THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p16 / WINTER 2016
and that’s why I wanted to help The Big Issue Foundation this year. Knitting really helped me when I gave up smoking. You can't knit and smoke at the same time. Also it took my mind off the cravings especially with a complicated pattern. Knitting has been likened to meditative yoga. I design knitting patterns and have now done a few commissions for customers. I knit for pleasure and really enjoy using the website Ravelry to share them and I’ve started my own Big Knitathon group. The Big Knitathon is held throughout the month of November and is all about bringing your community together to knit or craft small items for other people. You can knit or make whatever you like, or whatever you think other people will buy.
To find out more about events taking place this winter see www.bigissue.org. uk/events or contact us on 020 7526 3459 events@bigissue.com