learning and employment

Birmingham bin workers’ strike, one year on: Inside the forgotten neighbourhoods lined with rubbish
rubbish lines the streets in Birmingham with graffiti saying 'remember the poor' on a wall
Employment

Birmingham bin workers’ strike, one year on: Inside the forgotten neighbourhoods lined with rubbish

On the day marking one year since refuse collectors went on strike in Birmingham, Big Issue headed to the neighbourhoods hit hardest by rubbish left in the wake of the industrial dispute
Perfect Show for Rachel presents a joyful world of possibility for disabled people
Rachel and her sister Flo and their mother, who also stars in the show. Image: Ikin Yum
Theatre

Perfect Show for Rachel presents a joyful world of possibility for disabled people

Disabled journalist fears ‘secret cuts’ to Access to Work could force her out of employment
Access to Work

Disabled journalist fears ‘secret cuts’ to Access to Work could force her out of employment

There's a blind spot with the SEND reforms which could push more families into poverty
Lisa Mainwaring

There's a blind spot with the SEND reforms which could push more families into poverty

Mike Soutar: Employers are sitting on their hands when it comes to hiring. How can we change that?
Mike Soutar

Mike Soutar: Employers are sitting on their hands when it comes to hiring. How can we change that?

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Why don't people just get a job? The answer is far from simple
The green job centre plus sign hangs above a wet and dirty concrete architrave
Juliette Flach

Why don't people just get a job? The answer is far from simple

Labour's SEND reforms will live or die in classrooms. Families know what works
Diane Johnson

Labour's SEND reforms will live or die in classrooms. Families know what works

What will the SEND reforms mean for families and their disabled children?
Children in a classroom
SEND

What will the SEND reforms mean for families and their disabled children?

It was a traumatic, hellish fight trying to get SEND support for my daughter
Gaby and David Boast and their daughter Nellie.
SEND

It was a traumatic, hellish fight trying to get SEND support for my daughter

I left teaching because I felt eaten up by guilt that I couldn't help SEND children like my own
Sara and her daughter Ava.
SEND

I left teaching because I felt eaten up by guilt that I couldn't help SEND children like my own

My children were out of school for more than a year as we fought to get them SEND support
Elizabeth Padilla
SEND

My children were out of school for more than a year as we fought to get them SEND support

Mainstream school was right for my daughter. SEND changes could cause more harm than good
Sharon Smith and daughter Tanzie.
SEND

Mainstream school was right for my daughter. SEND changes could cause more harm than good

My son is deaf and blind – but it was months of fighting before he got SEND support
Kimberly Hind and son Harvey
SEND

My son is deaf and blind – but it was months of fighting before he got SEND support

Youth unemployment at its highest point for a decade: 'It's like running into a brick wall'
Unemployed University of Leeds graduate Charlie.
Social Justice

Youth unemployment at its highest point for a decade: 'It's like running into a brick wall'

Big Issue's 100 Changemakers of 2026: Learning and employment
Changemakers 2026

Big Issue's 100 Changemakers of 2026: Learning and employment

Introducing the Big Issue 100 Changemakers of 2026
Changemakers 2026

Introducing the Big Issue 100 Changemakers of 2026

I was homeless at 16 after leaving care. My apprenticeship gave me a future
Lifetime Training foundation apprentice Nick Marshall
Nick Marshall

I was homeless at 16 after leaving care. My apprenticeship gave me a future

Can apprenticeships fix the housing crisis? ‘I worked in childcare, now I fix social homes’
apprentices at PfP Thrive
Housing

Can apprenticeships fix the housing crisis? ‘I worked in childcare, now I fix social homes’

Blind NHS psychologist fears losing job after DWP slashed her Access to Work support: 'I was sobbing'
Access to work

Blind NHS psychologist fears losing job after DWP slashed her Access to Work support: 'I was sobbing'

Unemployment is on the rise in London. Should the rest of the UK be worried?
Ben Harrison

Unemployment is on the rise in London. Should the rest of the UK be worried?

They warned free school meals would hurt school budgets. Something much more interesting happened
Sadiq Khan serves dinner
Free school meals

They warned free school meals would hurt school budgets. Something much more interesting happened

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
The weekend turns 100 years old this year. It's time it got an upgrade
Joe Ryle

The weekend turns 100 years old this year. It's time it got an upgrade

'I'm happy to pay for uni, but I'll never clear my debt': Graduates hit out at student loans crisis
Student debt

'I'm happy to pay for uni, but I'll never clear my debt': Graduates hit out at student loans crisis

Disabled people could face benefit cuts – even if they cannot work, Citizens Advice warns
Disability benefits

Disabled people could face benefit cuts – even if they cannot work, Citizens Advice warns

Labour's U-turn over digital ID plans raises more questions and concerns than answers
a person using a phone
Digital ID

Labour's U-turn over digital ID plans raises more questions and concerns than answers