Kevin Gopal (left) with the rest of the editorial team: deputy editor Antonia Charlesworth, producer Christian Lisseman and designer Mark Wheeler. Credit: Rebecca Lupton

On the occasion of Big Issue North’s final edition as an independent magazine, its editor Kevin Gopal – in the role for 16 years – talks about some of the defining moments for him and his editorial team at the magazine.

Big Issue North editor Kevin Gopal: “I’ve been editor through the financial crash, austerity and now the cost of living crisis. What does marginalisation mean when nearly everyone’s being pushed to the margins?”

All photos courtesy of The Big Issue UK. Street art by Loretto.

What if the Queen had the vision of a Big Issue vendor? The street paper asked its team, who sell the magazine across the country, what they’d do if they were Queen for a day as the UK’s reigning monarch celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. The insights are intriguing.

“I’d give everybody a pay rise and halve the electric bills”: Big Issue vendors on what they’d do if they were Queen for the day

The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) has spoken out about the need to “tackle public perceptions about what its like to be homeless and in poverty”, as part of the solution to the UK’s growing poverty crisis. 

INSP’s comments are in response to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s UK Poverty report, revealing for the first time how many thousands of pounds are needed by families to escape poverty, and how that has got worse over time. 

INSP responds to UK Poverty report

Big Issue vendor Oprea Ruducan. Credit: Frankie Stone.

It’s all happening for Big Issue vendor Oprea, 48. Originally from Romania, he has just moved to a new selling point – at Bristol’s Temple Meads train station as part of a partnership with Network Rail – where he is perfecting his sales technique, and he has a new card reader to offer digital payments. He is studying a business course at university too.

Big Issue vendor Oprea Ruducan: “Each person who buys the magazine from me helps me get everything I need”

On the occasion of Big Issue North’s final edition, ceasing publication of an independent Big Issue magazine for the north of England due to multiple factors, the head of The Big Life Group and CEO of Big Issue North writes about the history of the magazine, why it was an important journalistic touchstone, and how it will continue to support vendors in the future.

Big Issue North CEO Fay Selvan: “I am proud that we continued publishing gritty content, focused on real life stories, with a local northern perspective for the last 30 years”

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Big Issue North editor Kevin Gopal: “I’ve been editor through the financial crash, austerity and now the cost of living crisis. What does marginalisation mean when nearly everyone’s being pushed to the margins?”

“I’d give everybody a pay rise and halve the electric bills”: Big Issue vendors on what they’d do if they were Queen for the day

INSP responds to UK Poverty report

Big Issue vendor Oprea Ruducan: “Each person who buys the magazine from me helps me get everything I need”

Big Issue North CEO Fay Selvan: “I am proud that we continued publishing gritty content, focused on real life stories, with a local northern perspective for the last 30 years”