Advertisement
Life

Big Issue founder Lord Bird shares his remarkable journey for wellbeing app Soaak

Lord Bird hopes that by sharing his story of overcoming adversity he can inspire others to take on life’s challenges

The Big Issue’s founder Lord John Bird has partnered with mindfulness app Soaak to share his journey from “Prison to Parliament” to inspire others to overcome adversity.

Wellbeing and mindfulness app Soaak offers “sound frequency therapy” alongside recordings of motivational speeches to “enhance mental strength and resilience”.

Explaining why he partnered with Soaak to record his experiences, Lord Bird described his frustration with the “complications and intricacies that often surround basic helpful advice”.

“I wanted to be useful to people because people have been useful to me,” he continued. 

Lord Bird experienced homelessness as a child and was jailed as a young offender, slept rough on the streets of London and returned to prison in his late twenties. He went on to found The Big Issue in 1991, and in 2015 was appointed to the House of Lords for his work supporting people experiencing homelessness into enterprise.

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

A Soaak spokesperson told The Big Issue: “Soaak’s collaboration with Lord John Bird brings forth a unique blend of transformative experiences and scientific advancements, revolutionising the way we approach holistic wellbeing. Together, we empower individuals to unlock their full potential and embark on journeys of growth and self-discovery.”

With Lord Bird’s guidance, Soaak wants to encourage listeners to “view challenges from different perspectives, say ‘yes’ to the seemingly impossible, and stand strong in the face of adversity”.

Your support changes lives. Find out how you can help us help more people by signing up for a subscription

The Soaak app also offers listeners sound frequencies that claim to address a wide-range of mental and physical health issues including, stress, anxiety, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), tooth and gum issues, male sexual health and self-confidence.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

SIGN THE PETITION

Will you sign Big Issue's petition to ask Keir Starmer to pass a Poverty Zero law? It's time to hold government to account on poverty once and for all.

Recommended for you

Read All
Letters: None of what Labour is doing is perfect – but it's better than what went before
Labour prime minister Keir Starmer
Letters

Letters: None of what Labour is doing is perfect – but it's better than what went before

'I'm seen as trouble for wearing a tracksuit': Young people share why they wear the clothes they wear
Onside Takeover

'I'm seen as trouble for wearing a tracksuit': Young people share why they wear the clothes they wear

School in its traditional form didn't work for me – so I decided to homeschool myself
Chloe Jones

School in its traditional form didn't work for me – so I decided to homeschool myself

From being understood to the price of Dr Pepper: Young people share their biggest issues
Onside Takeover

From being understood to the price of Dr Pepper: Young people share their biggest issues

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue