Like Rick Astley, volunteers never give up. They are the UK’s hidden heartbeat

Rick Astley could be the mascot for the latest edition of the magazine. It’s well established that he’s never gonna give up, but he’s not the only one.

In the UK, almost half of us say we’re likely to volunteer this year. There are 5.8 million unpaid carers. Chances are high that you’re a recruit of that unpaid army, or know someone who is.

Astley’s opus – his debut single, released aged 21 – documents the proclamations of a slightly overeager lover but never giving you up, letting you down or deserting you could just as equally apply to the selfless millions putting others before themselves.

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

Once you start listening to Astley’s back catalogue through that acoustic prism, there’s more commentary on the voluntary economy: Whenever You Need Somebody, Hold Me in Your Arms, Take Me to Your Heart, Together Forever… and a few more that don’t tend to make Best of the Eighties compilations.

We asked the question of what would happen if volunteers stopped showing up or carers stopped caring. But, of course, they never would. They are the hidden heartbeat that keeps us going. The country would crumble without them. What we can do is never give up on them, by pushing those in power to fill the gaps volunteers and carers are forced to plug and ensuring support is there when it’s needed.

Read more:

• Rick Astley: ‘Too much power in the hands of very rich individuals doesn’t feel right’
• Everything you needed to know about volunteering to get stuck in
• I’m a volunteer at Childline. Our calls matter to children in times of need

Sometimes taking on a role like that comes out of the blue, sneaking up on you like a less fun, more urgent rickrolling surprise. We went to meet the members of the community in Birmingham who suddenly found themselves trying to tidy up after the ongoing bin strikes. Sometimes never giving up takes a different shape – addiction. Alister Ross writes a strikingly honest piece about alcoholism and how he became reliant on his family to provide stability so that he could rebuild bonds with his own young son.

And if you’re so inclined, you may be interested to know that there are volunteering opportunities at Big Issue. Across the country there are distribution offices – in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Nottingham – that could always do with another pair of hands to help deliver magazines to vendors and offer them support.

You don’t need to be a financial or housing expert, simply lending an ear, listening and engaging is transformative and you can help us never give up on vendors as they work their way out of poverty.
Contact us for more info.

I first started at Big Issue on voluntary work experience. My main task was helping with picture research. On my first day I remember having to find pictures of Icelandic band Sigur Rós and thinking I was out of my depth because I didn’t know who they were. A few years later, I still can’t hum one of their tunes, or confidently pronounce their name, unlike the earworm of Astley’s that after this week I worry will never get out of my head. At least I’m not alone. Thanks to rickrolling, the video has over 1.7 billion views on YouTube, although not everyone watched it voluntarily.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

Change a vendor’s life.

Buy from your local Big Issue vendor every week – and always take the magazine. It’s how vendors earn with dignity and move forward.

You can also support online:
Subscribe to the magazine or support our work with a monthly gift. Your support helps vendors earn, learn and thrive while strengthening our frontline services.

Thank you for standing with Big Issue vendors.