The Big Issue’s social investment arm Big Issue Invest (BII) is tackling poverty in the UK where change is needed most, its new Impact Report has revealed.
Figures for 2017-18 show that a total of £10.7 million was invested by BII in 68 mission-led organisations across the UK during the last financial year. Almost half of the organisations in which BII invested – 43 per cent – offer services to people with significant additional needs or disadvantages. And investing in third-sector organisations is shown to have an additional positive impact for employees’ pockets, with 61 per cent of BII’s investees paying all staff at least the voluntary recommended living wage.
Big Issue Invest was established in 2005 to extend the mission of The Big Issue group by providing finance and support to social enterprises and charities seeking to dismantle poverty and create opportunity for people across the UK. The report, which will be officially unveiled at the House of Lords today / was unveiled last week at the House of Lords by Big Issue founder John Bird, highlighted the significant positive impact it has delivered over the last 12 months.
With a total current investment portfolio of £26.4 million – meaning BII currently has 198 investments in 150 organisations – the top five services offered by investees are training (43 per cent), education (42 per cent), employment opportunities for disadvantaged individuals (34 per cent), information, advice and guidance (32 per cent), life skills support, budgeting, parenting and personal safety (25 per cent).
Group chair of The Big Issue Group, Nigel Kershaw, said: “A lot of great organisations struggle to access small to large-scale loans, so we set out to provide support for those social enterprises and charities making a genuine difference within their communities.
