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Big Issue founder Lord Bird shares his remarkable journey for wellbeing app Soaak

Lord Bird hopes that by sharing his story of overcoming adversity he can inspire others to take on life's challenges

Lord John Bird

Lord John Bird, founder of the Big Issue

The Big Issue’s founder Lord John Bird has partnered with mindfulness app Soaak to share his journey from “Prison to Parliament” to inspire others to overcome adversity.

Wellbeing and mindfulness app Soaak offers “sound frequency therapy” alongside recordings of motivational speeches to “enhance mental strength and resilience”.

Explaining why he partnered with Soaak to record his experiences, Lord Bird described his frustration with the “complications and intricacies that often surround basic helpful advice”.

“I wanted to be useful to people because people have been useful to me,” he continued. 

Lord Bird experienced homelessness as a child and was jailed as a young offender, slept rough on the streets of London and returned to prison in his late twenties. He went on to found The Big Issue in 1991, and in 2015 was appointed to the House of Lords for his work supporting people experiencing homelessness into enterprise.

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

A Soaak spokesperson told The Big Issue: “Soaak’s collaboration with Lord John Bird brings forth a unique blend of transformative experiences and scientific advancements, revolutionising the way we approach holistic wellbeing. Together, we empower individuals to unlock their full potential and embark on journeys of growth and self-discovery.”

With Lord Bird’s guidance, Soaak wants to encourage listeners to “view challenges from different perspectives, say ‘yes’ to the seemingly impossible, and stand strong in the face of adversity”.

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The Soaak app also offers listeners sound frequencies that claim to address a wide-range of mental and physical health issues including, stress, anxiety, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), tooth and gum issues, male sexual health and self-confidence.

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