Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
News

Introducing the new Big Issue agony uncle Mark Dempster…

Mark Dempster is a Harley Street addiction therapist, has a radio show with Russell Brand – and now he is The Big Issue's brand new agony uncle

Harley Street addiction therapist and counsellor Mark Dempster knows better than most the power of The Big Issue to help people on the road to recovery from addiction.

A former drug addict and dealer, and having served time in prison, Mark was a Big Issue vendor from 1993 to 1996, before he trained as a counsellor and launched his successful Harley Street practice. He and Russell Brand – cover star of this week’s new Big Issue, who spent time talking through the gamut of addiction issues with a group of the magazine’s vendors for our cover feature – co-present a radio show, We are Recovery Radio, on Zone One station.

And now Mark is teaming up with The Big Issue to offer advice to readers with issues of addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, the internet and more. His first column is online here and you can send questions to Mark in confidence at bigissueproblems@bigissue.com (let us know if you would like anonymity), with his advice appearing right here on our site. You can also get in touch directly via the contact for below…

[contact-form-7 id=”13433″ title=”Agony Aunt Form”]

Find out more about Mark’s work here.

And for first steps towards getting advice, here are a few sources of helpful information:

Drugs & alcohol: Addaction

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Drugs advice: Talk to Frank

Alcohol: Drinkaware

Drinkline free helpline: 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm)

Continue reading for free

Registration is free and takes less than 30 seconds.

Our supporters make Big Issue’s work possible. Join us to see the impact we’re having together and discover more ways to help people facing poverty access income, opportunity and support.

Smoking: Smokefree NHS

Gambling: Gamcare

Gamcare free helpline: 0808 8020 133 (8am-midnight, seven days)

Find your local vendor

Find your Vendor
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Do you know how Big Issue 'really' works?

Watch this simple explanation.

Recommended for you

View all
A message to you, Andy: the nation needs you to keep your word on rough sleeping
Big Issue founder John Bird being interviewed on c amera
John Bird

A message to you, Andy: the nation needs you to keep your word on rough sleeping

How your first job can determine what you earn for the rest of your career
a woman shaking hands with a man at a desk
Employment

How your first job can determine what you earn for the rest of your career

London's walk-in homelessness services are closing. It's driving homeless people to hospital instead
A hospital waiting room
homelessness

London's walk-in homelessness services are closing. It's driving homeless people to hospital instead

'Andy Burnham must not repeat the mistakes of the past on homelessness'
Letters

'Andy Burnham must not repeat the mistakes of the past on homelessness'