The Big Issue

The Big Issue is one of Britain’s leading news and cultural magazines. Every week’s edition is packed full of original takes on the biggest issues of the day as well as interviews with the most significant figures in politics and entertainment. The Big Issue was founded 1991 to give people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to earn their own income. We continue to support hundreds of vendors across the UK and all proceeds from sales go to help anyone wanting to lift themselves out of poverty.

Line of inquiry

THE DISPATCH • News, views & miscellany

THE BIG ISSUE

EDITOR’S LETTER

YOUR LETTERS

Time to care for carers

What Kent can tell us about the shape of the UK • Last July, Britain was gripped by a wave of violent unrest, sparked by a terror attack and fuelled by a sense of political failure. One year on, as some protests have ignited once more, with mutterings of another summer of discontent, have those deep roots of resentment been dealt with or sprouted anew? Big Issue went to find the places where hope still thrives

Southport one year on: legacy of a tragedy • Big Issue Deputy Digital Editor and Southport resident Liam Geraghty recalls last summer’s riots that followed the horrific murder of three young girls – and looks at how the town has rebuilt after the attack while ongoing tensions simmer just below the surface

Anarchy in the ‘Yookay’ can be prevented if we stay strong

We need to talk about white privilege

When the world seems polarised, volunteering has a way of unifying people and rebuilding hope

GREENWICH PARK

Letter to My Younger Self ALEX JONES • She secretly always wanted to be in front of the camera, but would never have dared believe she’d be on primetime BBC

Books

Scream queens

Hostile environment

Simon Parkes I BOUGHT BRIXTON ACADEMY FOR £1 • As new play Brixton Calling tells the story of his audacious bargain and the sound and the fury that followed, Simon Parkes recalls the music and mayhem of this iconic live music venue

Music • Looking back, it was an honour to grow up among such extraordinary people. To witness how ordinary citizens became heroes

Puzzles

MY PITCH INTERNATIONAL • Summer’s here and the time is right to visit some street paper vendors across the world