Lou earns an income packing subscriptions via the Women's Workforce project. Courtesy of The Big Issue Australia.

The Big Issue Australia’s Simone Busija tells INSP about the street paper’s Women’s Workforce project. Just as selling street papers is a pathway to a sustainable income, the Women’s Workforce is a means of providing another employment opportunity for women experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage who may otherwise not feel comfortable selling magazines on the street. She explains the benefits of the programme.

Q&A: How The Big Issue Australia is empowering women through enterprise

Scottish homelessness charity the Simon Community announced plans to open a dedicated support centre in Glasgow, the country’s largest city, for women experiencing homelessness. INSP spoke to those involved in bringing the project to fruition about why it is needed and what it will offer.

Inside plans for Glasgow’s support centre for women experiencing homelessness

Thifany sells a copy of the magazine to a customer. Courtesy of 

Thifany Branco grew up having her identity rejected as she came out as transgender. It led to some traumatic experiences. However, at 41 years old, she has been able to shine as part of Brazilian street paper Revista Traços.

Revista Traços cultural spokesperson Thifany Branco: “Over the years, I have learned that my gender identity is rejected by society. Traços accepted me as I am and gave me back the self-esteem I had lost”

As of August 2022, groundbreaking legislation that made Scotland the first country in the world to establish a legal right to free period products nationally came into force. Ahead of International Women’s Day, INSP explored the impact of the policy to examine whether pathways to free menstrual items had been opened for society’s most vulnerable women, and how the cost of living crisis has affected the rollout.

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Q&A: How The Big Issue Australia is empowering women through enterprise

Inside plans for Glasgow’s support centre for women experiencing homelessness

Revista Traços cultural spokesperson Thifany Branco: “Over the years, I have learned that my gender identity is rejected by society. Traços accepted me as I am and gave me back the self-esteem I had lost”

Scotland enshrined the right to free period products into law – the cost of living crisis has made it even more essential