Big Issue was born out of a simple but radical idea: that people experiencing poverty deserve more than charity. They deserve the opportunity to earn a living legally and with dignity. That founding principle has guided us through decades of social change, and it continues to shape our response to new challenges.
During the Covid-19 pandemic one such challenge became painfully clear. As society shifted rapidly towards cashless transactions, our vendors were being left behind. We responded by equipping them with card readers, helping bridge the digital divide. But another, quieter divide was emerging: access to nature.
We noticed those with gardens or green spaces fared better than those without. This observation sparked a new question for us: what would meaningful nature inclusion look like for our vendors? And could it also help tackle loneliness, food insecurity and the rising cost of living? That’s how Big Grow was born.
Millions of Brits go hungry every day. We dive into what can be done in our food special, on sale now.
Our journey began in Norwich, where we met Reverend Annie at St George Church Colgate. Annie runs a weekly drop-in and generously offered us outdoor space to start growing. With a small grant from Norwich City Council and a press announcement, the idea quickly took root. Along with a flurry of gardening puns.
The response was overwhelming. Donations of seeds, plants and planters poured in, and we stretched that modest grant to launch three urban community food-growing projects: two in churches, one in the garden of a charity shop.
