The building has become integral to operations, a headquarters where the various programs such as the Vendor Café, the Women’s Subscription Enterprise (WSE), Street Soccer and The Big Issue Classroom are run. But more importantly, it has become a place where participants feel like they belong.
Although The Big Issue has offices in all the capital cities, NSW is the “only state where all the four programs that we run can be run out of the one building,” explains Susan. “This building has enabled us to really solidify our service delivery. What we have tried to achieve, especially with the vendor reception area, is to create a place that always feels welcoming, nurturing, sufficient, clean, tidy.”
Long-time vendor Marcus has already started feeling the benefits of the building. “The old office that we had in Regent Street was like a shoe box, really small, really confined space … the general vibe of this place is a lot better.”
Vendor Café is one of the favourite programs, celebrating the release of the latest magazine every second Friday over a cooked breakfast. It is an opportunity for vendors to interact with each other and the volunteers who help organise it. “The real thing we want volunteers to do is engage with vendors so that it’s a sense of normalising, so that they feel part of society,” Susan says.
With the majority of vendors being male, it was identified that “women are often fleeing domestic violence, might have children, making it very difficult for them to sell [the magazine] on the streets.” The second floor of the building has been opened up, creating the WSE which offers a space for a group of women to come in weekly and pack magazines to be sent to subscribers. Susan attests that there have been some amazing transformations, with the causal work helping to build up a sense of self-worth. “What that self-worth has done is enabled the women to pick up the phone and advocate for themselves, to get on Centrelink, and to get housing.”
Another program which is helping to break down the barriers of isolation is Street Soccer, which uses sport to help people feel good, get fit, alleviate depression and make friends.
The Big Issue Classroom offers students, schools and corporations opportunities to learn more about homelessness, with a vendor as the guest speaker sharing their experience.
For Marcus, the building has become an integral part of The Big Issue. “We’ve got a place that we can call home now.”
