Big Issue Group Impact
Big Issue Group impact – Working to end poverty
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 3,500 people to earn a legitimate income by selling the magazine, earning a collective income of £3.9 million.
But, with 16 million people in the UK living in poverty and 3.8 million people experiencing destitution – struggling to afford to meet their most basic needs to stay warm, dry, clean and fed – 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 2024
Our 2024 Group Impact Report shows our breadth of work and how we’re making extraordinary progress against our impact goals. Here’s some of the key highlights:
- 3,500 people earning a legitimate income as Big Issue vendors
- 212 new job candidates supported by Big Issue Recruit
- 1.8 million people supported the 145 organisations we backed through Big Issue Invest
- 2,400 articles focusing on our 5 Impact Pillars on bigissue.com and in the Big Issue magazine
- 9.5 million users engaged on bigissue.com
Big Issue Group 2024 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
Poverty is a problem that touches everybody. The issues it throws up are already destabilising our wider society, from the growing welfare bill to our overburdened public services. We must concentrate all efforts – individually, in our local communities and in government – on ending this crisis. We’re working to unite these voices.
We’d like to thank those who have supported us, be it readers, partners or investors. Our 2024 Impact Report demonstrates that our work is needed more than ever.
Big Issue Group’s 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
By 2027, we wanted to be engaging 11 million people with our products and services. It was an ambitious target, which required us to double where we were at the start of this journey. But now – just three impact reports later – we are proud to share with you that we have achieved that goal, two years ahead of schedule.
Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our team, Big Issue Group engaged with and supported 11.6 million people in 2024. Reaching this milestone has been no small feat and we’d like to thank our staff, partners and all those who have engaged with us.
Big Issue Group’s impactful growth
Impact Reports
Impact News
Letters: Reform getting in will cause a lot of civil disruption
Nearly half of Brits would struggle to pay for basic necessities in a month of losing income unexpectedly, new Big Issue YouGov poll reveals
Meet the ex-Big Issue vendor who went from homelessness to giving Prince William a tour of Aberdeen
