Mulholland marks 20 years of The Big Issue
March 31, 2011 4:36 PM
Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, has this week launched the cross-party group for Parliamentary and National Friends of the Big Issue in his role as Chairman of the Liberal Democrat Friends of the Big Issue.
2011 marks the 20th Anniversary of the founding of The Big Issue and MPs from all parties have come together to recognise the fantastic achievements of Britain's most famous social enterprise. The launch event was held in the Houses of Parliament, hosted by Greg along with former Labour Minister Sadiq Khan and Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith.
The event gave Big Issue vendors an opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas to legislators in a panel discussion about the future of social enterprise chaired by broadcaster and author Alpesh Patel. The new group aims to create a network of policy makers and like-minded individuals, to further the aims of The Big Issue and its founders and was attended by The Big Issue's co-founder John Bird and Nic Careem, who founded The Friends of The Big Issue.
The Big Issue currently has 3,000 registered vendors across the United Kingdom and vendors say that it is not 'a charity, but an opportunity', providing them with the chance to start forging themselves the start of a career, and moving on to better paths.
Greg commented:
"The formation of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Friends of the Big Issue is an important move in recognising the fantastic job that the Big Issue, and its vendors do. The publication itself is always full off insightful columns and interviews, and the role that the magazine plays in providing a form of income to those who need it most makes it the most commendable of projects.
Wednesday's event was nothing but a success at it was a fantastic to see colleagues from all parties join together in recognising the ongoing work of The Big Issue, its writers and its vendors.
I congratulate the Big Issue on the last twenty years of good work, that I am sure that they will continue to carry out over many more years. The support that the magazine provides to those who sell it really cannot be underestimated, and is an important step in helping people move from homelessness, into employment and getting their lives onto better paths."
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