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The pigs of Orwell’s Animal Farm led the revolution. Eighty years on, the UK’s pigs are in trouble
Farming

The pigs of Orwell’s Animal Farm led the revolution. Eighty years on, the UK’s pigs are in trouble

As Animal Farm turns 80, we’ve taken the temperature of British pig farming, and found an industry in decline
Refugees living in the UK are terrified. Please stand with us in solidarity
A woman holding a sign calling for people to 'Hear us' and 'Believe us'. Image: Simon Tang/ Women for Refugee Women
Memory

Refugees living in the UK are terrified. Please stand with us in solidarity

We need to stop turning on migrants and understand where the real power and blame lies
Dr Shabna Begum

We need to stop turning on migrants and understand where the real power and blame lies

Top Stories

Why did so many women in a tiny Hungarian village poison their husbands? 
Domestic abuse

Why did so many women in a tiny Hungarian village poison their husbands? 

Travelling for work shouldn’t be a postcode lottery – but our transport system makes it one
Clive Wratten

Travelling for work shouldn’t be a postcode lottery – but our transport system makes it one

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Inside the Big Issue: Think pig
Inside the Big Issue

Inside the Big Issue: Think pig

Letters: Immigration is good for a country
Letters

Letters: Immigration is good for a country

Oasis are still connecting and still making history after all these years. Where were you?
Paul McNamee

Oasis are still connecting and still making history after all these years. Where were you?

From legendary rock to the raves of tomorrow: This is the ultimate guide to 2025’s best music festivals
Festival guide 2025

From legendary rock to the raves of tomorrow: This is the ultimate guide to 2025’s best music festivals

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Advice

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How can I help homeless people during a UK heatwave?
uk heatwave
Homelessness

How can I help homeless people during a UK heatwave?

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
Cost of living crisis

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over

24 discounted days out for families on universal credit and other benefits this summer holiday
zoo
Summer survival guide

24 discounted days out for families on universal credit and other benefits this summer holiday

33 places where kids can eat for free or £1 over the summer holidays
kids eat free/ easter holidays
Kids eat free

33 places where kids can eat for free or £1 over the summer holidays

Meet our vendors

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Martin McKenzie, Waitrose, Bressenden Place, Victoria, London

Martin McKenzie, Waitrose, Bressenden Place, Victoria, London

Martin Flaherty, Trinity Leeds

Martin Flaherty, Trinity Leeds

Joe McDowell, M&S Prestwich

Joe McDowell, M&S Prestwich

Bob Sheppard, Co-op, Clarence Place, Bristol

Bob Sheppard, Co-op, Clarence Place, Bristol

Vendor news

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Letters: Immigration is good for a country
Letters

Letters: Immigration is good for a country

Disabled Big Issue vendor Jason has fought 21 years for an accessible home. There are millions like him
Our Vendors

Disabled Big Issue vendor Jason has fought 21 years for an accessible home. There are millions like him

Tributes paid to much-loved Big Issue vendor after tragic death: ‘He would always help everybody’
a photo of the tributes left on Big Issue vendor Neil Smith's pitch and his pet dog Honey
Our Vendors

Tributes paid to much-loved Big Issue vendor after tragic death: ‘He would always help everybody’

Letters: Why are people ready to hand our NHS to Farage and his millionaires?
Letters

Letters: Why are people ready to hand our NHS to Farage and his millionaires?

Opinion

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Refugees living in the UK are terrified. Please stand with us in solidarity
A woman holding a sign calling for people to 'Hear us' and 'Believe us'. Image: Simon Tang/ Women for Refugee Women
Memory

Refugees living in the UK are terrified. Please stand with us in solidarity

I reached out to a food bank after losing everything – it changed my life forever
Hugh McNeill

I reached out to a food bank after losing everything – it changed my life forever

We need to stop turning on migrants and understand where the real power and blame lies
Dr Shabna Begum

We need to stop turning on migrants and understand where the real power and blame lies

Travelling for work shouldn’t be a postcode lottery – but our transport system makes it one
A bus stop at Nailsea
Clive Wratten

Travelling for work shouldn’t be a postcode lottery – but our transport system makes it one

Newsletters

Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter with human stories at the heart
cost of living newsletter graphic
Cost of living crisis

Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter with human stories at the heart

Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Big Issue magazine

Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter

Culture

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Leona Lewis: ‘I would tell young Leona, I see your pain and I feel you – but you’ll be OK’
Letter To My Younger Self

Leona Lewis: ‘I would tell young Leona, I see your pain and I feel you – but you’ll be OK’

The singer had her heart broken by her first love at age 16, but her parents gave her the blueprint for her own couple goals
Top 5 historical novels, chosen by best-selling author Lana Kortchik
Books

Top 5 historical novels, chosen by best-selling author Lana Kortchik

Opera performers are using Palestinian flags to make a stand. And why shouldn’t they?
Classical music

Opera performers are using Palestinian flags to make a stand. And why shouldn’t they?

Letter To My Younger Self

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Leona Lewis: ‘I would tell young Leona, I see your pain and I feel you – but you’ll be OK’
Letter To My Younger Self

Leona Lewis: ‘I would tell young Leona, I see your pain and I feel you – but you’ll be OK’

The One Show’s Alex Jones: ‘I always wanted to be a mother. To have a child is a complete gift’
Letter To My Younger Self

The One Show’s Alex Jones: ‘I always wanted to be a mother. To have a child is a complete gift’

Mark Gatiss: ‘All my childhood dreams came true. There’s nothing left except James Bond’
Letter To My Younger Self

Mark Gatiss: ‘All my childhood dreams came true. There’s nothing left except James Bond’

Eric Idle: ‘George Harrison mortgaged his house so Monty Python could make Life of Brian’
Letter To My Younger Self

Eric Idle: ‘George Harrison mortgaged his house so Monty Python could make Life of Brian’

Most popular

‘Explain to me why I’m homeless’: Rough sleeper’s rage tells us a lot about what’s keeping people homeless
Homelessness

‘Explain to me why I’m homeless’: Rough sleeper’s rage tells us a lot about what’s keeping people homeless

‘Frustrated, angry, exhausted’: Food banks forced to ‘throw out food donated by supermarkets’
Food bank shelves
Food banks

‘Frustrated, angry, exhausted’: Food banks forced to ‘throw out food donated by supermarkets’

Disabled woman forced to quit job she loves after DWP support slashed: ‘I can’t make it make sense’
Access to Work

Disabled woman forced to quit job she loves after DWP support slashed: ‘I can’t make it make sense’

‘It’s devastating’: UK’s biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests
Workplace inclusion

‘It’s devastating’: UK’s biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests

Life

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The pigs of Orwell’s Animal Farm led the revolution. Eighty years on, the UK’s pigs are in trouble
Farming

The pigs of Orwell’s Animal Farm led the revolution. Eighty years on, the UK’s pigs are in trouble

Letters: Immigration is good for a country
Letters

Letters: Immigration is good for a country

How I cured my hypochondria
Health

How I cured my hypochondria

Millions of Brits use Buy Now, Pay Later to shop. Will new rules protect people from the dangers?
Alannah-Jayne Simpson and her two boys.
Buy Now, Pay Later

Millions of Brits use Buy Now, Pay Later to shop. Will new rules protect people from the dangers?

Inside The Big Issue

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Inside the Big Issue: Think pig
Inside the Big Issue

Inside the Big Issue: Think pig

Inside the Big Issue: Can we find this man a proper place to live?
Inside the Big Issue

Inside the Big Issue: Can we find this man a proper place to live?

How I secured funding to grow my social enterprise
Ruka Hair at an industry event
Big Issue Invest

How I secured funding to grow my social enterprise

Inside the Big Issue: The UK riots, one year on
Inside the Big Issue

Inside the Big Issue: The UK riots, one year on