Get The Big Issue app now with the 'nation’s PE teacher' Joe Wicks

The Big Issue is continuing to push the boundaries so we can find new ways to support our vendors through the Covid-19 crisis – and the latest step sees today’s launch of The Big Issue app.

We have teamed up with Joe Wicks, The Body Coach and all-round national hero, to kick off our digital revolution. The nation’s PE teacher is the cover star of this week’s magazine and speaks exclusively to The Big Issue in an interview which goes live on the app today.

We need to ensure that, once this is all over, The Big Issue is still here to support vendors to earn a legitimate income and lift themselves out of poverty

The app offers existing and new readers a fresh platform by which to access the award-winning weekly publication as well as access to The Big Community, a curated channel providing hope through positive and inspiring stories, focused on the people and businesses coming together in this crisis to support the most vulnerable in society – our Covid crusaders.

We hope that the new app and digital edition will allow us to maximise sales and support vendors across the UK in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

Throughout the lockdown period, Wicks has also been working to get people through these tricky times with his smash-hit 9am online workouts. Now he wants to help us support vendors.

Wicks said: “Since the coronavirus crisis hit the UK, Big Issue vendors haven’t been able to sell on the streets. We need to ensure that, once this is all over, it’s still here to support vendors to earn a legitimate income and lift themselves out of poverty.

“One of the ways you can support right now is by downloading the new Big Issue app. I’m so proud and pleased to be the cover star of the first edition that is available from today. I can’t urge you all enough to keep this awesome organisation alive by downloading it for free today and buying my digital edition for just £2.99 or subscribing for regular editions.”

The app, designed by the team at Pugpig at no cost to The Big Issue, is free to download, and available on Apple Store and Google Play and will make the magazine accessible through weekly downloads at £2.99 for a copy or via subscriptions, starting from £32.99 for three months.

Of magazine sales through the app, 50 per cent of the net proceeds, will go directly to supporting Big Issue vendors at this critical time.

Lord John Bird, The Big Issue founder, said: “My family and I have been doing Joe’s PE lessons without fail every day and they’ve been a great way to bring the community together at an unprecedented time in our history.  We are so pleased that Joe has shone the light on our Big Issue app and thank him from the bottom of our hearts.

“We now hope that readers will welcome our wonderful new app with open arms and support our vendors through these strange and challenging times. Your support may mean the survival of a 29-year old stronghold, which was, until now, there to offer a hand up for those living in poverty, please download the app today and subscribe, so we can be there for vendors, now and in the future.”

I can’t urge you all enough to keep this awesome organisation alive by downloading the app for free today and buying my digital edition for just £2.99 or subscribing for regular editions

Russell Blackman, MD, at The Big Issue, added: “Our income largely comes from street sales and without our vendors on the streets we are losing our ability to directly provide them with a source on income. They desperately need need our help and we have continued to adapt to the situation, by launching our new app.

“We are so pleased that we were able to work with the amazing team at Pugpig on the app so that new and existing readers are able to keep reading and supporting The Big Issue throughout this incredibly tough time. The money raised will help to secure the future of the Magazine and make a real difference to the lives of our vendors around the country.”

Tune into The Body Coach every morning at 9am on YouTube #PEwithJoe.