School pupils to sell special edition of The Big Issue

Young people from schools across Scotland will be selling a special edition of The Big Issue under a scheme to help them raise awareness of social issues.

The magazine will be on sale in a partnership between The Big Issue and the Social Enterprise Academy (SEA) from Monday.

A social enterprise-inspired supplement will run in all copies of the Scottish edition, with additional copies being sold by young people in 18 schools across Scotland on the day the magazine goes on sale.

The SEA, founded in 2004, run as a schools programme that gives pupils hands-on experience in running a business with a social purpose.

Paul McNamee, editor of The Big Issue, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Social Enterprise Academy for a second year to show how SEA’s presence has grown in England and much farther afield, highlighting new projects in London, Australia and Malawi.

‘We want to make sure every young person in the country has the same opportunity to solve the social issues they care about.’
Neil McLean, Social Enterprise Academy

“Last year, the school pupils who were involved with the projects showed us how their bright and bold ideas could be turned into innovative and profitable small social enterprises that really made a big difference in their local communities.

“Pupils will again be hosting sell-offs of the special edition of the magazine through their schools, making money for their projects and spreading the word about the important work of the Big Issue.”

Neil McLean, chief executive of the Social Enterprise Academy, said: “I hope that Big Issue readers are inspired by the creative social enterprises featured in this magazine.

“They are a perfect example of how young people can make real social and environmental impact in their communities when they have the opportunity to do so.

“We want to make sure every young person in the country has the same opportunity to solve the social issues they care about while developing key employability and entrepreneurship skills for the future through the Social Enterprise in Education programme.”