The Big Issue is a street newspaper founded in 1991 by John Bird and Gordon Roddick. It is published in four continents and written by professional writers, but sold by homeless individuals to provide them income. The Big Issue is one of the UK's largest social businesses and exists to help homeless and struggling people. It was inspired by a similar New York newspaper and received start-up funding from The Body Shop. The Big Issue later expanded through the founding of The Big Issue Foundation to provide additional support services to the homeless.

1. The Big Issue
Lorna James

2. What is the Big Issue?
The Big issue is a street newspaper founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick, it was founded in September 1991
and was published in four continents. It was written by Professional writers and sold by homeless individuals. The
Big issue is one of the UK’S largest social business and exists predominantly to provide income to homeless or
struggling individuals.
The big issue is the world’s most circulated street newspaper and is supported by the Big Issue Foundation

3. History of The Big Issue
• John Bird and Gordon Roddick were
inspired by Street news, a New York
newspaper that was built around the same
ethic as The Big Issue today; providing
income to the economically unstable and
homeless.
• The body shop provided a start up capital
value of £50,000 due to Mr Roddick being
the husband of The Body shop’s founder,
Anita Roddick.
• It was originally a monthly magazine
however in June 1993 it became a weekly
newspaper.
• In 1995 The Big Issue Foundation was
founded to provide more support to the
homeless such as housing, food , health
support, financing and addiction.

4. John Bird
• John Anthony Bird, also known as
The Lord Bird and Baron Bird
was born 30th of January in 1946
and is one of the founders of The
Big Issue and The Big Issue
Foundation as well as Gordon
Roddick.

5. Ethos
• The magazine is a non profit
organisation and is self sustaining
which generates sales through
advertising revenues and
magazine sales. All profits go to
the Big Issue Foundation which
legally is a separate entity to the
Big Issue magazine.