Inside the Big Issue: Who do you trust?

In this week’s extra special new look Big Issue, we ask: who do you trust?

Without trust, things fall apart. And in these polarised times, there isn’t very much of it around. Trust helps communities flourish, it’s vital for strong relationships and without it, institutions – policing, healthcare, education, politics – would grind to a halt. The biggest show on TV, The Traitors, is about understanding how trust is formed and broken.

If you can get people to trust you, you can get things done. Keir Starmer’s Labour government won the 2024 election by a landslide, campaigning on a promise to restore stability and integrity to UK politics.

But public trust in the government has taken body blows from badly handled policy rollouts, scandals and resignations and will take some effort to regain. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK have seized the moment, pitting themselves against the political establishment to top the polls.

Indeed, the public trusts celebrities lying to each other in a castle more than the people leading the country’s political parties.

What else is in this week’s Big Issue?

Bailiffs tried taking kids’ toys over council tax debt. People shouldn’t have to go through this

Campaigners have called for bailiffs to be banned from collecting council tax debt, warning it’s “hurting families and hurting communities”.  Bailiffs are even taking kids toys – in this week’s Big Issue, we look at why.

A ‘life-saving’ project is transforming the bedrooms of children living in poverty

Three-year-old Amelia bounces with excitement as her mum opens the door to her brand-new pink and fairy-themed bedroom. “Oh!” is her initial reaction, confusion scrunched on her face, before she starts running around, noticing the details in the room. There are the fairy wings she immediately puts on. The tiny fairy doll she calls an angel. A blue ukulele. The Peppa Pig drawing on a little glass whiteboard.

This is part of Transforming Spaces, a community outreach programme run by London-based charity The Childhood Trust, who work with pro bono interior design partner Katharine Pooley to create bedrooms for children in poverty.

Warren Ellis’ Letter to My Younger Self

The Australian instrumentalist and Bad Seed worshipped creativity. Later, animals brought him the peace he craved – but he always cherished collaboration with fellow musicians.

“Collaboration is such a precious thing. Nick Cave is the most important one. When we get together the sum of our parts kicks in.”

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