Big Issue Group Impact

Our Impact

We believe in the
transformative
power of enterprise
as a driver for
social change

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Big Issue Group Impact

When most people think about the impact of the Big Issue, they think of vendors selling magazines on the streets and we are immensely proud of this. Last year alone we supported thousands of people to earn a legitimate income by selling the magazine, earning a collective income of £4 million.

But, with 15 million people in the UK trapped in poverty, our work is bigger and has never been more important. We create solutions to unlock opportunities for all people affected by poverty to earn, learn, and thrive.

Our Impact in 2023

Our 2023 Group Impact Report shows our breadth of work and how we’re making extraordinary progress against our impact goals.

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Big Issue Group Impact Wrapped

Don’t have time to read the full report? We’ve wrapped up our impact highlights in the video below.

A message from our Group CEO

Paul Cheal, Group CEO

Our enterprising solutions to support people in poverty, be it direct or through our work with other organisations, are making a real difference to people’s lives. Whether though our work with vendors, our social investments, our person-centred recruitment service, or the impact of our campaigning, we’re determined to unlock social and economic opportunities that help millions endure the poverty crisis the UK is currently facing.

We’d like to thank those who have supported us, be it readers, partners or investors. Our 2023 Impact Report demonstrates that our work is needed more than ever.

Our Five Impact Pillars

Big Issue Group’s work is not simply focused on achieving any one single outcome. By fostering collaboration, empowering local organisations and leaders, and promoting sustainable practices, we aim to create long-lasting positive change. All of our products and services deliver impact across at least one of the five Big Issue impact pillars.

Download the full report to learn more about our Impact Pillars.

Progress Against Our Five-Year Impact Strategy

Our five-year goal is for 11 million people to engage with our products and be positively impacted by our services in 2026. All of our services contribute to dismantling poverty, whether directly or indirectly, from our support for individuals living in poverty to our journalism and campaigning challenging the systemic causes of poverty.