Building a world that works for everyone – Big Issue Group creates innovative solutions through enterprise to unlock social and economic opportunities. A percentage of the Fund’s earnings goes towards supporting Big Issue Group in its mission.
For over 30 years, The Big Issue has been at the forefront of social activism, working to dismantle poverty by creating opportunity. The social enterprise has supported over 100,000 individuals to earn over £144 million in collective income through selling 220 million copies of The Big Issue Magazine, to improve their social and economic prospects.
Big Issue vendors are also supported by the Group’s wrap-around services, with more than 25,000 receiving housing support, 32,000 receiving healthcare support and more than 30,000 vendors taking part in the Big Issue financial and digital inclusion programme.
Having emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, we now face a new challenge. In the wake of the cost-of-living crisis and record levels of poverty and inequality, there are now close to 15 million people trapped in poverty in the UK. Approximately 20 million people in the UK are unable to access mainstream finance. The work of Big Issue Group is as important now as when it first started, 30-years ago. This year, Big Issue Group launched its new five-year strategy, delivered through 3 pillars:
- Innovation – to create new income-generating opportunities for marginalised people. For example, Big Issue eBikes Bristol is creating new employment opportunities in the city. Work is also underway developing Big Issue Recruit, where Big Issue Group will work with key partners to support individuals in employment and training.
- Prevention – work to prevent more people from falling into, or remaining in poverty through direct support, campaigning, and journalism.
- Investment – backing individuals and organisations to achieve social, economic, and environmental growth and development.
By 2027, Big Issue Group aims for up to 11 million people every year to engage with Big Issue Group products and be positively impacted by Big Issue Group services. This includes:
- 57,000 people directly benefiting from the BIG services, including Big Issue vendors, individuals in need accessing support services, individuals using BIG employability programmes and the jobs created and supported through Big Issue Invest investments.
- 8.5 million people engaging with BIG print and digital media, through the website and purchasing from vendors.
- 1.5 million end customers benefiting from Big Issue Invest investments.
- 1 million people benefiting from positive policy outcomes and policy changes campaigned for by Big Issue Group.
- 60,000 people engaging with and supporting BIG campaigns for social justice and reduced inequality.
- 3,600 consumers shopping ethically with Big Issue Shop.
Impact investing for everyone
Big Issue Group aims to transform society by creating a finance system that works for all. Ordinary people have the power to make a big difference, and everyone should have the opportunity to put their money to work towards a better world. Big Issue Group works closely with partners who manage people’s savings, pensions, and other investments. Its aim is to change the world of finance for good so that ordinary people can see what their money is doing and use it to address the major social and climate challenges of our time alongside the opportunity for financial returns.
Big Issue Group helps to create new investment opportunities that address these challenges, providing expert advice to help its partners to better understand and measure the difference they achieve. It also provides independent reporting on the impact of investments that allows people to see whether those who are making the decisions on their behalf are really “walking the talk” in terms of their commitment to bringing about real, positive social and environmental impact.
“This report covers the period of the COVID tragedy. Our vendors had nothing to sell during the lockdowns to earn a living and Big Issue Group (BIG), as like many other social enterprises, faced a precipice.
By the end of the last lockdown Big Issue magazine, together with Big Issue Foundation, supported vendors with £1.3m of financial support. Just as important were the 8,000 support and wellbeing phone calls made by our frontline teams throughout the pandemic. Big Issue Invest, through the Social Enterprise Support Fund, granted a total of £3.2m enabling 118 social enterprises to continue their provision of essential services to those most impacted by the pandemic. The fees earned from the share of the UK Social Bond Fund together with a grant from Columbia Threadneedle played a significant contribution to BIG and our vendors during the crisis.
Profits also helped the Columbia Threadneedle Foundation for a grant to Fair by Design’s work in dismantling the ‘poverty premium’ and, in particular, how to secure better access for marginalised people to insurance.
A great and impactful partnership with our aligned values and demonstrating how both Big Issue Invest and Columbia Threadneedle tackle inequality through creating opportunity for everyone.”
Nigel Kershaw OBE, Chair of Big Issue Group
Download the full report
Read in-depth engagement case studies and learn how portfolio holdings are making the greatest contribution to four sustainability themes including ‘Sustainable cities’, ‘Decent work and economic growth’, ‘Affordable and clean energy’ and ‘Good health and wellbeing’.
