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The Big Life Plan



INSIDE STORIES
Philip Glenister

And all the regulars: Cartoon and comment, News, Features, Cinema, TV, Theatre, Live music and book reviews.
OUT EVERY MONDAY AND STILL JUST £1.20. ALWAYS BUY YOUR COPY FROM A BADGED VENDOR.

The Way The Big Issue in the North Works

We believe everyone is unique and has the capacity to change their lives. Selling The Big Issue in the North is the first step to helping thousands of homeless people help themselves.

The Big Issue in the North is a business solution to a social problem. It’s a limited company employing staff to write, design and distribute the magazine.

The Big Issue in the North is sold by homeless people across the north of England. Alongside selling the magazine most of our vendors take part in The Big Life Plan, a tailored programme of support to help vendors achieve their goals and move away from the streets for good.

Selling The Big Issue in the North gives homeless people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income. It also gives homeless people motivation and self-esteem.

• 85%of vendors say that selling gives them the motivation to change their lives
• 79% say it has improved their self-confidence
• 95% say they want more from life than selling The Big Issue in the North
• 82% say that since selling the magazine they have committed less crime.

Support services for vendors are managed and delivered by The Big Issue in the North Trust.

The Big Issue in the North company no. 03164559

The Big Issue in the North magazine is one of the North’s only weekly news and entertainment magazines. It sells 46,741 copies every week with its blend of off-diary news, features, arts coverage and campaigning journalism. The magazine is sold in the North of England, from Stoke-on-Trent to the Scottish borders, coast to coast (excluding Newcastle). It has offices in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, Hull and Sheffield. Other Big Issue companies operate in Scotland, Wales and the South.

Content
Big names speak to The Big Issue in the North. It interviews major stars of film, music, TV and sport. But it also features hard-hitting journalism and campaigns. There’s news from across the north, and features that have given The Big Issue in the North a reputation for asking awkward questions. It exposed the plight of refugees, examined miscarriages of justice, and led numerous campaigns (link to campaigns section?) in support of people without a voice. The Big Issue in the North is totally independent, so it can be challenging, opinionated and publish without fear or favour.

It also raises awareness about homelessness and its causes. But it makes no apology for putting celebrities on the cover and covering populist subjects. The company wants to produce a magazine that people want to buy and that vendors can sell. And when it does cover homelessness it aims to inspire hope, and challenge the culture of hopelessness.

International Network of Street Papers Street papers from across the world, from Russia to Australia, come together as the International Network of Street Papers (INSP). Britain’s street papers are:

• The Big Issue (covering London and the South of England)
• The Big Issue Cymru
• The Big Issue in Scotland
• The Big Issue in the North.

Each Big Issue magazine is a totally independent company, with different magazine content. However the magazines collaborate on national campaigns, world exclusive interviews and policy development on how to help the vendors move away from the streets.

The magazines also work together with other street papers around the world to report on the news of what’s really happening on the streets. They are in a unique position to bring you news from around the world from people who live there and really know what’s going on.

Competitions
Competitions run weekly in The Big Issue in the North. Entry is via phone line. Please see this week’s magazine…

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