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)

Smoking: Smokefree NHS

Gambling: Gamcare

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

Big Issue vendors are back!

It’s not just the shops that are opening again. From Monday 12th April onwards,  Big Issue vendors are back in business, with a big smile and a stack of magazines. Buy from your local vendor today!

Find out more
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

GIVE A GIFT THAT CHANGES A VENDOR'S LIFE

For £36.99, help a vendor stay warm, earn an extra £520, and build a better future.

Recommended for you

View all
West Ham star Tomáš Souček: 'We cannot judge homeless people – we can only help'
Football

West Ham star Tomáš Souček: 'We cannot judge homeless people – we can only help'

Remarkable turnaround for man who lived in woods for a year: 'I thought I was going to be there forever'
Andre Hopkins at his new home
homelessness

Remarkable turnaround for man who lived in woods for a year: 'I thought I was going to be there forever'

Criminals to be stopped from smuggling puppies: 'Thousands are taken from their mothers far too young'
pip and squeak, smuggled puppies
Animal welfare

Criminals to be stopped from smuggling puppies: 'Thousands are taken from their mothers far too young'

Millionaires tell Rachel Reeves: Tax us more or lose to Reform in the next election
Wealth tax

Millionaires tell Rachel Reeves: Tax us more or lose to Reform in the next election