Big Futures

A group of Big Issue vendors and Lord Bird walk arm in arm on their way back from 10 Downing Street

Big Futures

We’re building a movement to end poverty for good

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

The Facts

Right now, over 3.8 million households in the UK are living in destitution. That means 3.8 million people are unable to feed, clothe and keep themselves warm – and with the cost of living crisis raging on, there’s no end in sight. So it’s more important than ever that politicians are committed to investing in people to end poverty and improve society for us all.

What is Big Futures?

Big Futures is the Big Issue Group’s movement to end poverty. We have a network of digital activists, journalists and ambassadors who are speaking up for change, supported in the House of Lords by our founder Lord Bird.

We’re raising the issues that matter most when it comes to tackling poverty and holding politicians to account.

We need your all to speak up now. It doesn’t matter who you are, we need your help.
Jane, Big Issue vendor and campaigner

Find out about Lord Bird’s work in Parliament for Big futures

Big Futures Poverty Prevention Pillars

Here at the Big Issue Group we believe that ending poverty relies upon addressing five interlinked pillars of concern. Poverty is multi-faceted and complex – there is no one-size fits all solution.

These pillars are the cornerstone of our work at the Big Issue Group, and we believe that the government must adopt the same model to truly break the cycle of poverty.

Housing: secure housing is an important step in creating a stable environment to move forward and rebuild peoples’ lives.
Health & Wellbeing: poverty causes ill health, which drives inequality and increases the pressure on health services. Prevention improves quality of life, and is more cost-effective for the state.
Community & Environment: poverty and inequality can be directly tackled at a local level through community initiatives, and this is intrinsically linked with improving our environment.
Employment & Learning: investing in lifelong education and skills results in more stable and secure employment, higher earnings and less exposure to poverty.
Financial & Digital Inclusion: tackling digital and financial exclusion, to ensure everyone is equipped with basic financial and digital skills, alongside access to the internet, communication and bank accounts. This is critical to drive inclusion and enable earning and employment.