Big Issue Invest

29/03/2023

“Moving into the CLT has been completely transformative. Knowing that I'm part of a community, that I'm buying into something bigger than myself, rather than paying a landlords mortgage, is great. It's also changed the way me and my partner have been able to think about our futures, our lives. We've never had such stability to rely on, to depend on, to have as a basis for our plans and dreams.

“I also love the CLT model. It's amazing to be in good housing that not only works for me on a practical level, but also aligns with my values, my politics, my belief in community. I also love the fact that if we ever move out then the flat will be made available to the next person who needs it, on the same basis as us. It shows that making flats that are permanently affordable is possible, and actually quite straightforward. Which is so important now after we've seen so much social housing that has been sold off to the private sector without being properly replaced.”

- Kes Gill-Martin, a new resident at

Learn more ➡️londonclt.org/citizens-house



Citizens UK Lewisham Council Community led housing London Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan Nationwide Building Society Ecology Building Society BPM Project Management LTD Big Issue Invest Joseph Rowntree Foundation Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust Impact on Urban Health Community Land Trust Network

08/03/2023

On International Women’s Day, we’re proud to share just a few of the female founded organisations we have invested in here at Big Issue Invest, as part of our mission to change lives through the investments we make.

Have a look at some of our recent investments including our recent support for Izzy Obeng, owner of Foundervine, where we invested £127K to her social enterprise. She was named Forbes’ 30 under 30, for Social Impact in Europe!

You can read all about it here 👇
http://bit.ly/3LbV1ui

Foundervine is led and was founded by Izzy Obeng, who was named Forbes’ 30 under 30, for Social Impact in Europe

07/03/2023

The Big Issue’s National Vendor Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate our work with vendors across the Big Issue Group and how we support vendors into work through our Investees at Big Issue Invest.

We’d like to introduce you to Angus – a tour guide in Edinburgh at Invisible Cities – a Big Issue Invest Investee. Angus was a former Big Issue vendor: “Four years ago I was told by my Big Issue colleagues about a new initiative in Edinburgh that trains people with an experience of homelessness to become walking tour guides. Being interested in Scottish history and languages I was eager to get involved.” Angus went on to secure part-time work at a historical attraction in Edinburgh and work with Invisible Cities. He can take you take you on a tour through the centuries down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

Read more about Big Issue’s National Vendor Week and what you can do to support us here - http://bit.ly/3YAac3K

06/03/2023

The cost of living crisis is having a disastrous impact on millions of people across the UK. In 2022, 3,642 vendors sold the Big Issue - a 10% increase from 2021! 899 of those individuals signed up to become a vendor and sell the Big Issue magazine for the first time.

A majority of 69% of new vendors stated they were selling the magazine as their main source of income or as an additional income source. A further 10% wanted to use the Big Issue as a springboard to find full-time employment.

National Vendor Week is about celebrating our vendors and highlighting why the work we do is more important than ever.

Support us here: https://www.bigissue.com/big-issue-national-vendor-week/?utm_source=Instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=National_vendor_week_vendor_stats_post

06/03/2023

As part of Big Issue Group, we're supporting the introduction of the very first Big Issue National Vendor Week! This week is dedicated to celebrating Big Issue's enterprising vendors, their lives and work.

Along with a special edition of the magazine, there will be a series of celebrities supporting vendors by hitting the streets to sell the magazine. We'll be looking beyond the tabard, paying tribute to the men and women for whom Big Issue ultimately exists, for their route out of poverty and their means of reconnecting with society.

We’ll be showing how Big Issue Invest work to support vendors into other forms of employment and work through our investees.

Find out how you can join us here: http://bit.ly/41Nqp8b

27/02/2023

The UK is facing pressing social challenges, from systemic inequality to the cost of living crisis. By tackling inequity in social investment through the , we can enable underrepresented founders to grow their impact and benefit their communities.

Our first learning report shares insights on how we're working towards that goal, our lessons in setting up the fund, and calls for you to support us in our journey.

Read the report – https://blog.growthimpactfund.org.uk/20d19cda02b8

The Growth Impact Fund is for Professional Investors only, Capital is at Risk.

15/02/2023

Proud to have helped London CLT along this journey. Their inclusive approach to building affordable homes is ground-breaking, and we hope to continue to support them to create even more homes in the years to come! 🏠

12/01/2023

We are proud to announce the launch of our 2022 Big Issue Invest Social Enterprise Investment Fund II (SEIF II) report. The fund has been operating since October 2015 and has provided 21 investments in 16 different social purpose organisations across the UK to date.

In the last year, SEIF II signed a further two transactions with a total capital commitment of £6.65m, including a follow-on investment into Village Underground and a new investment into Sustainable Workspaces.

To find out more and download the 2022 report, please visit:https://wordpress.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BII-SEIF-2022_final.pdf

12/01/2023

We are proud to announce the launch of our 2022 Big Issue Invest Outcomes Investment Fund (OIF) report. The OIF has continued to progress with investment since last year and has now committed just under 94% of the fund.

The £10 million Fund launched in May 2017, providing much needed working capital to enable charities and social enterprises to deliver against results-based contracts, such as Social Outcomes Contracts (SOCs). The Fund now supports SOCs with a total outcomes value of over £58 million, including £750,000 to Doncaster Big Picture Invest - a SOC with the aim to improve educational engagement and attainment for students who are disengaged from mainstream school systems.

To find out more and download the 2022 report, please visit:https://wordpress.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BIG-OIF-2022_final.pdf

09/01/2023

Two-time awardee of our Social Enterprise Support Fund (SESF), Flo's - The Place in the Park, is hiring!

Flo’s is a community enterprise hub running a nursery, café and refill shop. Alongside community education activities, they also support the incubation of diverse-led social enterprises locally.

And now, they’re on the look out for a new Executive Director. If you or someone you know would like to find out more about the vacancy or apply for the role, you can do so by visiting https://www.flosoxford.org.uk/work-with-us/

01/12/2022

We are saddened to report that social investment pioneer, brain cancer awareness campaigner and valued member of the Big Issue family James Fairweather has died at the age of 61.

As CEO of Big Issue Invest, Fairweather supported social businesses and charities to deliver social, economic, and environmental impact across the United Kingdom.

Donations in James Fairweather’s memory can be made to thebraintumourcharity.org

https://www.bigissue.com/news/tributes-paid-to-social-investment-pioneer-and-valued-member-of-the-big-issue-family-james-fairweather/

James Fairweather will be remembered for his contribution to social business and his campaigning on behalf of people with brain cancer.

25/11/2022

Big Issue Invest has proudly invested £130K into From Babies with Love, a social enterprise that supports abandoned and orphaned children around the world.

From Babies with Love’s social mission is to innovate products and services that create a new source of income to care for orphaned and abandoned children. Their goal is to donate £1 million profit per year to their partner charities, empowering over 100,000 vulnerable children.

The money from Big Issue Invest will allow the organisation to expand its staff and therefore help extend its mission of supporting children around the world.

Read more at

The money from Big Issue Invest will allow the organisation to expand its staff and therefore help extend its mission of supporting children around the world.