One of the best ways to really understand what is happening across Britain, and to explain how Big Issue can work for good, is to go directly to the heart of the action. And that is what we’re doing. This autumn we launch The Big Issue Big Community Roadshow. For a week, we will bring all aspects of the group – our editorial, our opportunities for vendors, Big Issue Recruit and Big Issue Invest to a city or area across Britain. We begin in Newcastle.

We will listen, report and support in places that have been let down in the past but have the ideas, spirit and people to plot better futures. Throughout, we’ll encourage collaboration with local partners and stakeholders and will learn from their ground-up grassroots solution.

“As the country seeks to rebuild itself, the Big Issue wants to understand more – and do more,” said Paul McNamee, editor of the Big Issue.

“We believe the only way to bring change is to listen to those in the middle of things. We don’t know all the answers, but experience tells us that many people do. We will listen and seek to bring together these solutions.”

Big Issue is born of the streets and works, at our core, by listening to those we exist to serve, to transform lives, and adapting as we do. This is an extension of who we are. We want to properly tackle poverty to help bring real and lasting change.

From 1 October we will be embedded in Newcastle city centre. We will produce both our regular content and also have an open door, inviting people in to tell us their stories and alert us to areas they feel we should be focusing on. We will be in the 5G Immersive Lab in Eldon Square on Tuesday 1 and Thursday 3 October and in Floe at The Stamp Exchange on the 2nd. Big Issue crew will be visible around the city centre for the three days. You might also spot a Womble with us.

“We will have an open door for people to come to talk, including to learn more about the growing parts of our Big Issue Group, and how our Big Issue Membership and vendor opportunities can work to help,” said Catherine Parsons, managing director of the Big Issue Changing Lives Community Interest Company.

“We invite community leaders and local businesses to discuss, input, and collaborate with local changemakers to seek positive outcomes at a local level. Through these roadshows, we will show how communities can come together to tackle poverty head-on, driving change.”

After Newcastle, the Big Issue Community Roadshow will find its way across the UK, putting our focus on places too often ignored, marginalised, and neglected. Stay tuned for more detail to come.

Here is a breakdown of the Big Issue Community Roadshow

Tuesday 1 October 5G Immersive Lab, Eldon Square

10am: An opening presentation on how to refer into Big Issue vending and to our Big Issue Recruit (BIR) service, and the benefits of each option. Come along through the day to find out more.

10am-4pm: One-to-one work advice sessions from BIR job coach Ellena.

Throughout the day, in the city centre we will be visible with our vendors and frontline staff explaining the benefits of selling Big Issue and how you can get involved, or recommend us to others.

Wednesday 2 October The Floe, The Stamp Exchange

Open door to speak to our editorial crew.

We look forward to discovering the big issues that matter to the community.

Thursday 3 October 5G Immersive Lab, Eldon Square

Big Issue Invest – Introduction and deal surgeries

Want to know how Big Issue Invest works and how it can help with your plans for growth? This is your opportunity. Following the launch of Big Issue Invest Flexible Social Fund, in partnership with North East Combined Authority, local investment managers will be running informal one-to-one deal surgeries for those who want to find out more about BII’s funding opportunities. These sessions will provide an opportunity for local impact-driven business to discuss plans to boost social impact, fuel growth, improve cashflow or purchase assets.

Thursday 3 October Evening event, The Common Room, Newcastle

7pm: The Big Issue Big Debate

The week’s activities will be rounded off with our own Question Time-style panel event. This will be a free live event, open to anyone who wishes to come along to contribute, bring their insights, ask questions or simply hear what the panel think. It will be a debate seeking answers rather than arguments.

Chaired by Big Issue’s UK editor Paul McNamee, the panel will include local figures from the worlds of business, culture, politics and grassroots leadership, including celebrated local social entrepreneur Charlotte Windebank and former Big Issue vendor and well-known local personality Earl Charlton. Big Issue founder Lord John Bird will also join.

We invite questions ahead of the event, covering any aspect of concern for the people of Newcastle. Sign up for your tickets to the Big Issue Debate here. We look forward to seeing you in Newcastle

Wombling free

The Wombles and Big Issue have joined forces! Their shared mission is to bring communities across the nation together, encouraging them to focus on their local area and take positive action to improve it in small, achievable ways.

The Wombles tell stories that bring people together. They believe that everyone should take pride in their local patch. Whether that’s slowing down and sharing a cup of tea with neighbours or going out with a community group to plant trees and clean up the local park, The Wombles are here to lead the way. They believe that by coming together with like-minded organisations, individuals and communities, a real change can be made to improve our local environments.

The power of community, they believe, can be key in addressing many of the social issues that people face. The Wombles will be joining the Big Issue Community Roadshow in Newcastle from 30 September, so make sure to come along to all the events planned to meet a Womble in real life!

Find out more about what The Wombles are doing to improve communities across the nation.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Debate

Get ready, Newcastle: the Big Issue Community Roadshow is coming to town