The Big Issue Foundation
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The Big Issue Foundation is a registered charity[1] in England working with vendors of The Big Issue, a street newspaper. The foundation provides vendors with information, advice, guidance and support.
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[edit] History
The foundation was created in November 1995 by John Bird with the aim of addressing the underlying issues which cause homelessness and by supporting Big Issue vendors.
[edit] Projects
The foundation has four main project areas under which its services fall: helping vendors establish secure housing, providing access to health advice and healthcare, managing vendors' money and The Big Issue sales, and improving homeless individuals' self-esteem.[2]
[edit] Services
The foundation offers several services, including:
- The Vendor Support Fund, which provides financial support to vendors to help them move on and to deal with crisis situations.
- Financial Inclusion Project, a programme of financial literacy support for Big Issue Vendors, aiming to improve their financial skills.
- Service Broker Project, a project to help Big Issue vendors obtain services (such as housing).
- Outreach, which pairs Big Issue vendors with support teams working on the streets.
- Health Week, an annual[3] event where health practitioners provide services to vendors advising on all aspects of health and better lifestyle.
- Aspirations Week, a project seeking to promote an "aspirational" culture among vendors.
[edit] Fundraising
The Big Issue Foundation is funded by donations made by Charitable Trusts,[4] individuals[5] and people participating in fundraising events.[6]
Fundraising events include:
- London to Paris Bike Ride
- London to Berlin Bike Ride
- Kilimanjaro Trek
- Great North Run
- London Marathon
- Asics British 10k London
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1049077&SubsidiaryNumber=0
- ^ http://www.bigissue.com/Our_Projects_45.php
- ^ http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/toc-press-story/1000891/The-Big-Issue-Foundation-takes-health-to-the-homeless
- ^ http://www.bigissue.com/Trust_Fundraising_10.php
- ^ http://www.bigissue.com/Donate_7.php
- ^ http://www.bigissue.com/eventcategory.php?id=1
