About Big Issue Foundation

Selling The Big Issue magazine is often only the first step for many homeless people who hope to make a decent living and change their lives for the better.

There are many obstacles facing homeless people that make it difficult to move on from selling the magazine and find homes and jobs.

The Big Issue Foundation enables people affected by homelessness to achieve self-confidence, self-esteem and independence, by providing access to a range of support services. It provides a gateway to a unique range of services both within the community and based at its offices.

These include housing and resettlement advice, employment, education and training opportunities, and specialist health services - covering drug, alcohol and mental heath issues. Combined, these services offer homeless people the hand up they need to rebuild their lives.

Our history

The Big Issue magazine and The Big Issue Foundation work together to help homeless people achieve a permanent move out of homelessness.

The Big Issue Magazine

The Big Issue magazine was set up as a social business in September 1991 with funding from The Body Shop Foundation.

The aim of the initiative is to provide homeless people with the opportunity to earn a legitimate income and increase their self-esteem and confidence. Currently, homeless people selling the magazine receive 60% of the cover price of the magazine. The remaining 40% is used to cover production and distribution costs.

The Big Issue Foundation

To complement the self-help ethos of The Big Issue magazine, The Big Issue Foundation charity was established in 1995. The aim of The Foundation is to assist homeless people, predominantly those selling the magazine (vendors), to achieve greater self-reliance and independence. This is achieved by providing practical support services that are offered in Brighton, London, Norwich, West and East Midlands and South West England.

Together with The Big Issue in The North Trust, The Big Issue Foundation in Scotland and The Big Issue Cymru, we form a national alliance providing street-based services for homeless people.