The Big Issue

The Big Issue is one of Britain’s leading news and cultural magazines. Every week’s edition is packed full of original takes on the biggest issues of the day as well as interviews with the most significant figures in politics and entertainment. The Big Issue was founded 1991 to give people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to earn their own income. We continue to support hundreds of vendors across the UK and all proceeds from sales go to help anyone wanting to lift themselves out of poverty.

Light relief

THE DISPATCH • News, views & miscellany

Government reforms mean landlords are threatening an ‘exodus’ by selling up. What will happen to renters’ homes if they do? • There are fears that the housing crisis could worsen if private landlords decide to ditch their properties in large numbers. But it could also be a big opportunity to get to grips with the problem

The Big Issue

EDITOR’S LETTER • Human destiny is never set in stone

Millions of British adults lack basic literacy and are excluded from modern life. This affects us all

How I found my voice • The Voices Creative Writing Competition, run by Coram, gives children in care and young care leavers a platform to express themselves and raise awareness of their experiences. As the 2025 competition is open for entries, one of last year’s winners recalls the impact it had on his life

LETTERS

‘WHEN PEOPLE NEED A LOAN TO FEED THEIR BABY, THEN THE WORLD HAS GOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS’ • Burnley’s Dave Fishwick took on payday lenders such as Wonga and won, offering not only money but hands-on advice. The new Netflix film Bank of Dave 2 celebrates his Dave vs Goliath win against the loan sharks, but he says community banks like his are needed more than ever

FINANCIAL INCLUSION? DON’T BANK ON IT

ICELAND EXPANDS INTEREST-FREE LOAN SCHEME THAT SLASHES FOOD BANK USAGE

‘I am not an alpha male’ • His experience with hecklers led to him inviting the audience to shout at him in his latest show. James Acaster is letting go of insecurities – and finding something profound

Streetwise Opera: the sound of salvation • Denise Allison’s life story could be the subject of an opera. The youthful 75-year-old (above) became street homeless in her seventh decade and spent the best part of eight months using her Freedom Pass to keep warm on night buses in London. Then she found an unexpected source of salvation

HARLAN COBEN • Creating worlds in his own head as a child prepared him for writing novels. Tragedy and the Boss helped his talent mature

KATKA

Digital ghosts haunt a voyage of discovery

I couldn’t find answers in books. So I wrote my own

William Tell’s apple scene still cuts to the core of political terrorism

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor ‘ I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN USED TO THE CAMERAS, EVER’

LUCY SWEET IS ON THE VERGE

The cost of change

How to stop the social media rot

Puzzles

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