History

Since 1993, thousands of homeless and vulnerably housed people have earned in total more than £9.6 million by selling The Big Issue in Scotland

The Big Issue concept is a social enterprise that works – we publish a magazine that vendors can sell in order to make a direct profit and escape the cycle of dependency on handouts and begging. Not only do vendors make a legitimate profit, but the magazine is self-sustainable, meaning we don't need to rely on grants to keep us going. That's better in the long run for our vendors, to ensure the magazine is here as long as we need to be.

Here is a brief history of our accomplishments since 1993:

2006

• January: TBIS launches its Countdown to 2012 campaign. This is in response to the Scottish Executive’s pledge to end homelessness by 2012, by giving everyone equal right to a home. Countdown to 2012 features run regularly in the magazine.
• April: Big Issue Scotland are nominated for the Scottish Press Awards. Peter John Meiklem for young journalist of the year, and Chitra Ramaswamy for feature writer of the year
• May: TBIS joins with Shelter to launch their Home Is campaign, with TV stars Colin and Justin
• August: TBIS editor Clare Harris takes part in the Festival of Politics at the Scottish Parliament, as part of the Edinburgh Festival. The topic is, naturally, how to end homelessness Edinburgh vendor Sam Waylen receives a good citizen award, after being nominated by regular customers at his Morningside pitch
• October: TBIS launches major redesign with new features including vendor’s writing and artwork, big name guest columnists and a grassroots campaigns section called The Big Story.
• December: The Big Issue runs world exclusive interview with Robbie Williamsomes second in the Asylum Positive Images award for his feature "Stortytelling" published 16 June 2005.
  

2005

• November: The price of the magazine is increased to £1.20, with 70p of the cover price going to the vendor.
• September: TBIS recieves two recognitions at the Amnesty International Scottish Media Awards for excellence in human rights journalism. Sudabeh Kh Moti, guest editor and journalist Mona McAlinden receive special mention for our Refugee Week Special, June 10, 2004. Peter John Meiklem comes second in the Asylum Positive Images award for his feature "Stortytelling" published 16 June 2005.

2004

• November: Eva Langlands, TBIS journalist, wins the consumer magazine writer of the year by PPA Scottish Magazine Awards. TBIS shortlisted for Best Online Presence.
• October: TBIS reaches its 500th edition. 
• March: Eva Langlands, TBIS journalist, wins the "NUJ Award for reporting Excellence". June: TBIS is shortlisted for Amnesty International  Media in Human Rights Reporting 
• July: Big Issue @ Work spun-off as independent company.

2003

• July: New Consumer is spun-off as own company limited by guarantee.
• The Big Issue and SCVO expand its charity recruitment partnership to include the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA). A website portal is developed called Good Moves, which has become the market leader in Scotland for jobs in the charity sector. 
• TBIS wins the Amnesty International award for Media Excellence in Human Rights Reporting for our asylum seekers special issue.

2002

• The Homeless Task Force reports a whole series of recommendations, which are now being implemented across Scotland. Legislation was also introduced. Mel Young sits on a task force to specifically address the homeless issue in Glasgow.
• February: Big Issue @ Work, an enterprise focused on offering long-unemployed the opportunity to gain independence by getting back to work and gaining control of their personal and financial situation, is launched. 
• April: New Consumer, UK's only fair trade magazine, is launched from within The Big Issue In Scotland. 
• July: Bank of Scotland wins a Business in the Community Award for their partnership with Grand Central Savings. 
• October: Big Issue Scotland International (BISI), a company limited by guarantee with charitable status, is launched to replace and expand on activities formerly conducted through No Borders Limited to help establish street papers throughout the world.

2001

• March: Grand Central Savings, a savings bank for people unable to open a mainstream bank account, is launched in Glasgow.
• June: James Doherty, TBIS journalist, wins "Weekly Newspaper Journalist of the Year" and the "David Boyle (Erskine Hospital) Memorial Award" at the Bank of Scotland Press Award ceremony. 
• November: The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship selects Mel Young, founder and company director, as one of world's top social entrepreneurs.

2000

• Social Justice Minister Jackie Baillie MSP sets up the Homeless Task Force. Mel Young is one of the participants, helping to develop strategies to end homelessness.
• September: No Borders Limited, a joint venture company between The Big Issue in Scotland and the Non-Profit Foundation is set up to help establish street papers through central and eastern Europe. Street papers have subsequently been launched in Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. 
• December: Grand Central Union, an intensive training and self-confidence building program, is launched in Glasgow.

 

1999

• March: The price of the magazine is increased to £1, with 40p of the cover price going to the vendor.
• TBIS partners with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) to jointly provide advertising space for charity sector recruitment/job postings to build on TBIS growing recruitment section and for SCVO's Third Force News.

1998

• April: Mel Young becomes President of the Executive Board of the INSP. Annual conferences of the INSP begin.
• March: TBIS is recognised in four categories in the BT Scottish press awards.

1997

• March:TBIS is recognised in seven categories in the BT Scottish press awards.

1996

• March: TBIS forms a partnership with The Depths, the street paper in St. Petersburg, Russia.September: TBIS becomes a weekly magazine. The price is increased to 80p , with 35p of the cover price going to the vendor. 
• December: Andrew Gilchrist, journalist at TBIS, wins a Bank of Scotland Press Award for outstanding journalism for exposing the filthy conditions inside a Glasgow hostel and the issues of homelessness.

1995

• July: Move On, an enterprise focused on people affected by homelessness to tackle their homelessness effectively and permanently and in the process regain more control over their lives, is launched. The magzine increases to 70p, with 30p of the cover price going to the vendor.September: TBIS, in partnership with The Big Issue, launch The Big Issue in North East in Newcastle. 
• November: TBIS becomes a member of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), which was set up by The Big Issue and held its inaugural meeting in London.

1994

• Social Iceberg Foundation Scotland (SIFS) is launched under TBIS. The name was changed later to Big Issue Foundation Scotland (BIFS). One of the high profile and successful activities from 1994-2002 of the Foundation was Open Hogmanay. This New Year's event was much more than a party - its underlying aim was to connect homeless people with services available to them in the community.

1993

• June: Mel Young and Tricia Hughes launch The Big Issue in Scotland (TBIS) as an independent, fortnightly magazine in response to the growing number of homeless people in Scotland. The magazine costs 50p, with 20p of the cover price going to the vendor.

1991 

• September: John Bird launches The Big Issue as a monthly newspaper in London. The idea came from Gordon Roddick, the Chairman of The Body Shop.

« What We Do  |  next »