I was trafficked and forced to work 23 hours a day. How was I meant to return to normality?
I was trafficked and forced to work 23 hours a day. How was I meant to return to normality?
Ilja Abbattista is now a board member for the Bright Future Co-operative, which is supporting modern slavery survivors into safe and secure employment
Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle
Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle
Donald Trump’s import tariffs could ‘completely destabilise’ UK’s car industry
Donald Trump’s import tariffs could ‘completely destabilise’ UK’s car industry
Top Stories
People in poverty feel disconnected from democracy. But it doesn’t have to be this way
People in poverty feel disconnected from democracy. But it doesn’t have to be this way
Benefits, rent rises, and energy bill hikes: All the tax year changes in April 2025 you need to know about
Benefits, rent rises, and energy bill hikes: All the tax year changes in April 2025 you need to know about
Letters: Covid was a chance to reset. So why are we still working until we drop?
Letters: Covid was a chance to reset. So why are we still working until we drop?
Inside the Big Issue: Jeff Goldblum and his keys to life
Inside the Big Issue: Jeff Goldblum and his keys to life
Big Issue’s Kids Cover Competition is back for Earth Day – judged by the legendary Chris Packham
Big Issue’s Kids Cover Competition is back for Earth Day – judged by the legendary Chris Packham
Introducing the Big Issue 100 Changemakers of 2025
Introducing the Big Issue 100 Changemakers of 2025
Advice
Living on the edge: How to avoid falling into poverty amid rising costs
Living on the edge: How to avoid falling into poverty amid rising costs
DWP payment dates in March 2025: When you will get your benefits this month
DWP payment dates in March 2025: When you will get your benefits this month
Crisis-proofing your finances: How to prepare for the unexpected with an emergency fund
Crisis-proofing your finances: How to prepare for the unexpected with an emergency fund
36 places where kids can eat free or for £1 in February half term
36 places where kids can eat free or for £1 in February half term
Meet our vendors
Gemiliana, Pero’s Bridge, near Arnolfini Arts, Bristol
Gemiliana, Pero’s Bridge, near Arnolfini Arts, Bristol
Vendor news
Inside the Big Issue: Michael Sheen’s great debt battle
Inside the Big Issue: Michael Sheen’s great debt battle
Inside the Big Issue: 40 years on from the miners’ strike
Inside the Big Issue: 40 years on from the miners’ strike
Aberdeen vendor shares fears over M&S closure with local MP: “She’s in our corner”
Aberdeen vendor shares fears over M&S closure with local MP: “She’s in our corner”
It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day. For this Big Issue vendor, kindness is always around him
It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day. For this Big Issue vendor, kindness is always around him
Opinion
How building a healthier society will get Rachel Reeves out of a bind
How building a healthier society will get Rachel Reeves out of a bind
People in poverty feel disconnected from democracy. But it doesn’t have to be this way
People in poverty feel disconnected from democracy. But it doesn’t have to be this way
Social opportunity should take the place of social security 
Social opportunity should take the place of social security
Being diagnosed with a brain tumour was the best day of my life. Here’s how it let me help others
Being diagnosed with a brain tumour was the best day of my life. Here’s how it let me help others
Newsletters
Sign up to Working On It: The Big Issue newsletter about making work better
Sign up to Working On It: The Big Issue newsletter about making work better
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter with human stories at the heart
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter with human stories at the heart
Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Culture
Football legend David James: ‘I had difficult moments at every club, not just Liverpool’
Football legend David James: ‘I had difficult moments at every club, not just Liverpool’
It was high jump or football for David James, but the promise of free food tempted him between the sticks
Hedonist ex-MP Victor Grayson tried to expose corruption and scandal. Then he disappeared forever
Hedonist ex-MP Victor Grayson tried to expose corruption and scandal. Then he disappeared forever
Top 5 gritty thrillers, chosen by viral sensation and best-selling author Lloyd Devereux Richards
Top 5 gritty thrillers, chosen by viral sensation and best-selling author Lloyd Devereux Richards
Letter To My Younger Self
Football legend David James: ‘I had difficult moments at every club, not just Liverpool’
Football legend David James: ‘I had difficult moments at every club, not just Liverpool’
Writer and comedian Mark Steel: ‘Doing my car tax was more stressful than having cancer’
Writer and comedian Mark Steel: ‘Doing my car tax was more stressful than having cancer’
How Canada’s next prime minister Mark Carney came to be inspired by Big Issue
How Canada’s next prime minister Mark Carney came to be inspired by Big Issue
Fashion icon Twiggy: ‘David Bowie singing my name was the thrill of my life’
Fashion icon Twiggy: ‘David Bowie singing my name was the thrill of my life’
Most popular
The inside story of how Tony Blair’s New Labour all-but ended rough sleeping
The inside story of how Tony Blair’s New Labour all-but ended rough sleeping
Should care experience be a protected characteristic? Care leavers speak out on status debate
Should care experience be a protected characteristic? Care leavers speak out on status debate
Domestic abuse soars by 38% when England lose. This Euros, we need change
Domestic abuse soars by 38% when England lose. This Euros, we need change
Count Binface: ‘The British people will be watching you, Keir Starmer’
Count Binface: ‘The British people will be watching you, Keir Starmer’
Life
Brits are uncomfortable talking about money and debt. Can comedy change that?
Brits are uncomfortable talking about money and debt. Can comedy change that?
Letters: Covid was a chance to reset. So why are we still working until we drop?
Letters: Covid was a chance to reset. So why are we still working until we drop?
Covid exposed the brutal realities of UK health inequality – has anything really changed?
Covid exposed the brutal realities of UK health inequality – has anything really changed?
Chav Solidarity author D Hunter: ‘My violent childhood left me without role models for parenting’
Chav Solidarity author D Hunter: ‘My violent childhood left me without role models for parenting’
Inside The Big Issue
Inside the Big Issue: Jeff Goldblum and his keys to life
Inside the Big Issue: Jeff Goldblum and his keys to life
Inside the Big Issue: Alison Hammond answers some Big Questions
Inside the Big Issue: Alison Hammond answers some Big Questions
‘The world will be a better place!’: Why Big Issue became one of the original B Corps