Stump Up Your Pound! (The Big Issue)

Member Name: jillmurphy

Product:	The Big Issue
Date:	16/07/00 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good read, good cause.

Disadvantages: None

There is a 'PS' at the end of this opinion added after receiving a comment - why is it I always forget something?

The Big Issue is a magazine sold by homeless people for £1. The basic premise is to give such people a chance to earn money by honest work, given the vicious circle of no address no job, no job no address. Each seller receives a percentage of the cover price.

It is crammed with interesting articles and includes many items by the homeless themselves. Often celebrities who support the initiative give exclusive interviews to the magazine. Compared to other publications The Big Issue gives great value for money so you aren’t even required to pay a premium for doing the decent thing as it were.

Don’t rush past the Big Issue seller in the street; stop, pay your pound, and prepare for an interesting read. So many people complain about charity donations not getting to the people they should, and not encouraging the recipients to help themselves. Well here’s an idea even the most reluctant giver can approve of.

Try The Big Issue, you won’t waste your pound and you’ll help some one too!

PS - I appreciate that the homeless are not always without shelter for noble reasons and that alcohol is chief among them; your money may merely pay for that night's consumption. However, if the pound you pay is honestly earned and the product you buy is value for money how much further should you go. I'd hate to think people would not buy The Big Issue because of this, when there are so many people being given the chance they need.

Summary: