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Issue 1212 - Time for a Break

Britain had a heavy week in politics last week, so in next week’s Big Issue we have the perfect antidote: a 64-page summer special packed with sun, fun, positive ideas for the future – and our very lovely 16-page Getaway supplement full of great last-minute short break ideas. Here’s what’s inside...

John Bird points out that Britain has overcome other great political shocks in history – we will adapt and survive, especially with some of the positive signs coming from local politics and the youth of tomorrow. And on that note...

Not content to sit and moan about how old people robbed them, young people are getting stuck right in this week. Adrian Lobb hears from energetic and enthusiastic youngsters who have got into politics, are shaping the future of news and reinventing their own communities to bridge the gap between young and old, from every part of the world.

He also speaks to the inspiring Michael Sani, whose Bite the Ballot organisation has seen a “huge spike” in young people registering to vote. The only way to shape your future is to get involved – and he’s reaching the voters of the next generation from as young as four!

We also look at how on social media and in the real world people are rallying against the upsurge in racial abuse and hate crimes that followed the referendum. The voices of the many will always drown out the few.

This is also the theme of editor Paul McNamee’s column – he’s happy to report a rise in sales of The Big Issue in that most difficult and confusing of weeks, suggesting people are standing by our vendors and looking out for them. This is very good news, and we urge the nation to continue in this spirit.



Elsewhere we have 6 pages of brilliant books features, including:

-The future of reading – it’s an incredible, immersive world (and you don’t have to give up your paperbacks to enjoy it);

-The Big Issue’s picks of the very best books of the year to take on your hols;

-Celebs share their must-reads of the summer, including Nicola Sturgeon, Richard Madeley, Kelsey Grammer and many more – it’s funny, insightful and will make you go “really?!?!”.

We also highlight an extremely provocative artwork – is it saying humanity is rubbish, or people are disposable? Tell us what you think...

Our Letter to my Younger Self this week is from Arianna Huffington,founder of The Huffington Post - a game-changer in online news media, she gives an incredibly personal and moving account of her last hours with her mother.

This week’s vendor featured on My Pitch is Paul Jones, who sells in Bristol,but is just back from selling on a very exciting guest-pitch – at Glastonbury Festival! He tells us how the Big Issue Foundation helped him find accommodation, and how his regulars keep him going.

As if that’s not sufficiently marvellous, we also have our tremendous 16-page summer Getaway supplement! It includes:


-‘It’s better than you think...’ a guide to cities in UK and Europe that aren’t on the regular travellers’ radar that are well worth checking out; and thebest travellers’ apps that you never knew existed but won’t be able to do without;

-Keep calm and carry on camping – it’s not all midges, mosquitos and damp canvas, we provile everything from luxury yurts to ‘champing’ in churches...

-Fancy doing something more productive with your holiday than lying by a pool? Try voluntourism – we find out why it’s more rewarding than your average holiday; plus we’ve the pick of the best accessible holidays in Britain

-Why are adults behaving like kids? (We don’t mean in the Commons...) find out why grown-up play is now all the rage

-And Beat the British Weather with our guide to the UK’s extremest weather spots, plus our very best Hidden Britain tips on where to go on your day off – with a free OS map and detailed guide to download absolutely free for every single one, there’s no excuse not to get your boots on!


Competition this week is to win a BIG BOX OF BOOKS – this always goes down really well with our readers – and there’s also a bumper box of kids’ books too featuring everything from Horrible Histories to the Hunger Games.


Please note this edition is no longer on sale with Big Issue vendors and so is classed as a 'back issue'. All back issues are priced at £4 per copy plus P&P

The Big Issue

The Big Issue's own-brand products support the creation of a range of work-based opportunities for disadvantaged people.
Big Issue has spent over 30 years at the helm of self-help revolution. It all began with the launch of The Big Issue magazine in 1991, which was created to offer homeless and disadvantaged people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income by selling a magazine on the streets. Since then over 200 million copies magazine have been sold by over 100,000 people. Vendors buy the magazine upfront for £1.75 and sell it on to the public for £4.00, and in doing so each runs their own micro-enterprise. In 2005 Big Issue Invest was launched, with the aim of extending The Big Issue's mission by financing the growth of social enterprises and charities across the UK. To date the organisation has directly invested in over 350 such organisations, and manages or advises on more than £170 million of social funds.
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