Everyone who is a part of the global street paper network knows what a street paper is – that extends to the staff that put each publication together and those who buy them. But the people who truly know what a street paper is – what it means – are those who sell them. Here, a collection of street paper vendors – from Greece to Australia – tell us, in their own words, what a street paper is, personally to them.

Vendors from The Big Issue Australia were tasked with writing letters of advice and wisdom to their younger selves in a twist on the long-running street paper feature.

The lives of millions of people around the world were transformed when countries shut down in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus. For Big Issue vendor Mark, who is based in Adelaide, Australia, lockdown was spent fending off boredom, watching TV, talking to friends and family on the phone and dealing with… pigeons.

From her pitch in Melbourne, The Big Issue Australia’s Mariann B watches the city become deserted, and the streets fall silent as coronavirus forces everyone into lockdown.

The Big Issue took stock of how coronavirus is affecting the world’s homeless community, providing another update on just how severely the spread of the virus is impacting street papers and the people for which they provide an income.

This latest COVID-19 dispatch is from Australia, where like most places across the world, there is a cognitive dissonance when it comes to being urged to stay at home when, in fact, you don’t have a home to go to.

Find out what cover stories have been making a splash on the streets around the world this month.

The Big Issue has been reaching out to vendors across the street paper network to get the inside scoop on the cities they know best. This instalment features Big Issue Australia vendor Pat talking about Bangkok in Thailand, her home country. She sells the street paper in Perth, Western Australia.

Each year, one of the most trusted and oft replicated #VendorWeek events is a ‘Big Sell’, which brings together notable names and vendors to share in the experience of selling a street paper. In Australia, The Big Issue asks business leaders and entrepreneurs to become vendors for the week, and this year is no different.

For The Big Issue Australia’s #VendorWeek edition, vendors from all over Australia offered words of advice, hard-won wisdom and love to their teenaged selves.

As fires continue to burn a path through the Australian bush, claiming lives and homes and displacing communities, those who are homeless have few, if any, options to escape the smoke. Two Big Issue Australia vendors give first-hand accounts of the impact of the devastation.

To mark the end of INSP’s 25th anniversary year, we have been asking vendors across the street paper network to write a letter to their 25-year-old self. 41-year-old Daryl is today’s vendor, who actually started selling the street paper not long after he turned 25. It has had a big impact on his life.

What’s been making the front pages of street papers during the past month?

We’ve rounded up the best of the street paper covers we’ve seen being sold on the streets this September.

Keira sells The Big Issue from her pitch at Miranda train station, Sydney. She has been working for The Big Issue since leaving school and is grateful for the community that exists among those working for the paper. Keira has been a wheelchair user since having an operation to remove a brain stem tumour when she was eight and has been a long-time advocate for those who use wheelchairs. She views her work as a vendor as another important aspect of her efforts to increase awareness.

Fiction, food, festivals and fun – here’s our round-up of street papers covers this month.

Representing INSP at the 2019 Homeless World Cup, Tony Inglis had a day to take in as much of the tournament as possible. With a number of the national teams represented being affiliated with street papers in their respective countries, he took it upon himself to ensure that he supported them all at least once over the course of the day. It presented an intriguing match clash which happened to bring out the best in what the event has to offer – fair play, camaraderie, friendship and excellent football.

Here’s our round-up of the bold, bright and beautiful covers being sold on the streets this July.

Meet the new Street Socceroos! Eight of the fittest and finest Big Issue Street Soccer stars are representing Australia in the 17th annual Homeless World Cup. They’re in Cardiff, Wales, where they are competing against 50 other nations. For some, it’s their first time overseas. For all, it will be a life-changing experience.

Street paper vendors have been giving the inside scoop on the cities they know best. Here, The Big Issue Australia vendor Mark talks about the Gold Coast.

We recently crowned the winner of our People’s Cover Award – find out who took home the top prize, and take a look at the other covers making a splash and being sold by our vendors around the world.

Our picture gallery of the 2019 INSP Awards. Relive the highlights!

The winners of the 2019 INSP Awards have been revealed at the official Awards Ceremony, as part of the Global Street Paper Summit in Hannover, Germany.

Today we’re bringing you the penultimate set of 2019 INSP Awards Finalists, with the Top 5 entries in Best Campaign.

Street paper vendors have been giving the inside scoop on the cities they know best. Here, The Big Issue Australia vendor Malcolm talks about Perth.

With a little over one week to go until we’re crowning our INSP Awards 2019 winners, today we’re unveiling the Finalists in one of our new categories for this year – Best Special Edition.

The Best Vendor Contribution Award recognises the top contribution to a street paper by their vendors. Here are the Top 5 Finalists for 2019.

As the 2019 INSP Awards draws closer, we’re bringing you the Finalists in each category over this week and next, and we’re continuing today by announcing the Top 5 Entries for Best Cultural Feature.

Street paper vendors have been giving the inside scoop on the cities they know best. Here, The Big Issue Australia vendor Raylene talks about Fremantle.

Street paper vendors have been giving the inside scoop on the cities they know best. Here, The Big Issue Australia vendor Luceil talks about Canberra.

Street paper vendors have been giving the inside scoop on the cities they know best. Here, The Big Issue Australia vendor Jeromy talks about Brisbane.

Street paper vendors have been giving the inside scoop on the cities they know best. Here, The Big Issue Australia vendor Daniel talks about Adelaide.

The Big Issue Australia asked a selection of its vendors to share what it’s like to sleep when you have no place to call home.

We’re introducing two brand new awards as part of the INSP Awards 2019 – the first of which is Best Special Edition. Here’s the Top 10 Nominees…

Say cheese…it’s time for us to announce the Best Photograph Nominees for the INSP Awards 2019!

Best Cover is always one of our most hotly contested INSP Awards, and this year is no exception, with a record 78 entries in this category from street papers around the world!

We’re continuing to announce the nominees for the Editorial categories of the 2019 INSP Awards, and next up is the Top 10 for Best Vendor Contribution.

We’re continuing with our 2019 INSP Awards announcements, and today it’s the Top 10 Entries for Best Cultural Feature.

We’re delighted to reveal the first set of nominees for the INSP Awards 2019 today, and we’re kicking off with the Top 10 Entries for Best News Feature.

The Big Issue has been reaching out to vendors across the street paper network to get the inside scoop on the cities they know best. Here, The Big Issue Australia vendor Mark talks about Melbourne.

Gamal grew up in Egypt and came to Melbourne after his brother sponsored his move to Australia in 1987. Here, he reflects on his early life, talks about the challenges that he faced after moving to a new country and acknowledges the difference that being a Big Issue vendor has made to his life.

Staff from four Big Issue titles based in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia got together in Osaka for INSP’s first Asia-Pacific regional meeting, to talk and learn more about the unique problems facing each of them and the innovative projects they are involved in.

In collaboration with The Big Issue, vendors from street papers across the world have been sharing some insider tips on the cities they live and work in, which we are sharing during #VendorWeek. Here, Big Issue Australia vendor Bob C talks about Sydney.

If someone asked you to photograph your “happy place”, what would you choose? To celebrate #VendorWeek, The Big Issue Australia asked eleven vendors from around the country take on the challenge.

One of The Big Issue Australia’s annual #VendorWeek traditions is their CEO Selling event. This year, over 100 Australian business leaders from an array of companies and organisations took to the streets with vendors to learn about their work.

Cindy sells The Big Issue on the streets of Adelaide. Lynn sells L’Itinéraire on the streets of Montréal, Canada. The blazing heat has officially hit Cindy’s city, while Lynn shivers through snow and ice. Sitting in vendor offices on either side of the world, they stare into computer screens and greet each other ahead of #VendorWeek 2019.

As the festive season approaches and we prepare to open the first door of our advent calendars, time to take a look back at the street paper covers that have been sold by our vendors in 34 countries around the world during November.

This year we asked vendors: if you could give a song as a present this Christmas, what would you choose? The result was the INSP Vendor Playlist, which is now available for your listening pleasure. Sue, who sells The Bis Issue Australia in Melbourne, chose the late Aretha Franklin’s rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’.

David K has been selling The Big Issue for over a decade from his pitch in Brisbane’s central business district. He started working as a vendor when his life was on an upswing, and things have only improved since then. David is the proud father of a daughter now in college and a keen street soccer player, and he wants to thank his customers for their support over the years.

Women aged 24 to 34, often with children, are the most likely to access homelessness services in Australia, while homelessness among older women is on the rise. Big Issue Australia vendor Cheryl shares her experiences of being homeless as a woman.

It may be Halloween, but we’ll try not to scare you off with this month’s eclectic round up of street paper covers from around the world.

As September draws to a close, we’re pausing for a moment to reflect on the impressive street paper covers that have been seen across the INSP network this month.

This Big Issue love story begins at a wheelchair touch football game and continues on through joy, devastation and more love – an abundance of it. The Big Issue Australia’s editor Amy Hetherington speaks to newlywed vendors Kelly and Greg.

This month saw the 2018 Global Street Paper Summit return to INSP’s home city of Glasgow, and our golden annual opportunity to replenish the street paper archive and get up close and personal with covers from around the world.

As we approach the halfway mark in 2018, take a look back at the covers on sale on the streets of the world this month.

As the final round of group games comes to a close, street papers across our international network are still in the grip of World Cup fever. Down under, The Big Issue Australia’s Anastasia Safioleas writes about their Community Street Soccer Program, further proving the transformative power of the beautiful game.

This award acknowledges excellence in street paper design – find out who’s made the Top 10.

We’re continuing with our 2018 INSP Awards announcements, and today we’re revealing the Top 10 Entries for Best Cultural Feature.

No need to put out a distress call, our round-up of street paper front pages from the last month has landed.

When The Big Issue Australia published their first issue, 60,000 Australians were homeless. Now, that number is almost double. New census figures released this month show that there are more than 116,000 people who don’t have a place to call home. For their latest edition, The Big Issue decided to go beyond the statistics to hear from the very people these numbers represent – their vendors. Their stories are illuminating, devastating, and hopeful, and evidence that homelessness is more than not having a place to sleep.

With entries for the 2018 INSP Awards opening very soon, has February delivered us any potential winners in the Best Cover category?

Big Issue vendors from across Australia offer words of advice, reflection, consolation and love to their teenaged selves in these special letters written for #VendorWeek 2018.

The Big Issue Australia vendor Cameron has become an internet sensation after a Facebook post about his unique idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day went viral.

To celebrate #VendorWeek 2018, The Big Issue Australia took an in depth look at the ways street papers around the world are creating extra employment opportunities for the people who need them most. And what better way to learn about them than from the people who are employed by and benefit from them. Social enterprises featured in the article come from these INSP members: The Big Issue Australia, =Oslo, The Curbside Chronicle, Shedia and L’Itinéraire.

One sure-fire way to begin to understand what street paper vendors do every day is by stepping into their shoes. Selling events are popular throughout the INSP network during #VendorWeek, and The Big Issue Australia’s is the biggest and most established. The 2018 instalment is no different.

Allan, a proud Aboriginal man from Wurundjeri country, and a Big Issue Australia vendor for 21 years, has spent his 2017, as he has most years of his life, fighting for his people and his culture to be properly recognised.

Allan is a long-time vendor who has been selling The Big Issue in Melbourne for 20 years. Here, he talks about his Aboriginal background, struggles with addiction and how his spirits are lifted through the power of song.

We bid farewell to September by having a look back at the best of the street paper covers from the month.

The 2017 Global Street Paper Summit allowed us to get up close and personal with August’s covers – take a look at our highlights from the network.

Find out who took home the 12 coveted awards at the 2017 INSP Awards, held in Manchester, UK.

Six impressive campaigns from our street papers have made it as finalists – time to find out all about them.

All this week, we’re announcing the nominees for the 2017 INSP Awards – and today it’s the top ten in the Best Design category.

We’ve been having a blast looking at the highlights from July of what our network has been producing.

June has been and gone in a flash – but we’ve taken time to stop and look back on a superb month of street paper covers.

All this week, we’re announcing the nominees for the 2017 INSP Awards – and today it’s the top ten in the Best Design category.

After surviving an attempt on his life, Bluey developed PTSD. Drug use eventually cost him his career and he became homeless and isolated. Selling The Big Issue has helped him re-engage and secure a roof over his head, as well as enjoy a good book or a movie when his finances allow.

Finland’s Iso Numero – one of the youngest of the world’s 110 street papers – spent a week in March learning from The Big Issue Australia, as part of INSP’s Intensive Learning Programme. They reflect on their lessons learned.

Participants about to set off on international placement scheme to strengthen street papers and share ideas.

This Valentine’s Day, read about how Trevor and Ellen have The Big Issue Australia to thank for bringing them together for a second chance at big love.

Vendors Mark and Ann shared their first ever Skype chat in honour of #VendorWeek and found out they have more in common than they first expected.

From Melbourne to Denver, Taipei to Athens, vendors across the globe share what it’s like to sell a street paper in their city… and so much more.

For #VendorWeek, more than 100 senior business leaders and politicians will sell Australia’s The Big Issue to raise awareness of the country’s 500+ street paper sellers.

In 2017, Craig aims to get a two-bedroom place so his daughter can come to visit him. She hasn’t been able to in the rooming house he currently lives in.

Between Halloween and Trump, there’s a frighteneing vibe on this month’s international street paper covers. Thank god for Street Cat Bob…

There’s support from big name stars featured on this month’s covers – but also stark reminders of why street papers are so necessary for homeless people.

August’s street paper covers have the Olympic spirit, featuring ‘cuddly lawnmowers’, a homeless wedding, Steven Spielberg, and a cheeky little bit of rickrolling.

Peter makes a living selling The Big Issue Australia in Perth. He is hoping to make a trip back to the States were he was born but says he will miss his loyal customers when he’s away.

On her last day, INSP intern Francesca Harrington-Edmans looks back at the insights she’s gained from her experience of the street paper movement.

Soak up a summery selection of animal-mad street paper covers with pugs, wolves, chickens, seagulls and crabs – plus Pikachu and the fish star of Finding Dory.

The concept of Housing First sounds either bleeding obvious or bleeding heart, depending on your perspective. But in Utah it’s changing lives – and saving public money.

In the midst of the tournament, we learn how The Big Issue Australia helped seven players bring the infectious “Aussie team spirit” to the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow. The experience has already rendered goalkeeper Shannon “speechless”.

A gloriumptious look at the world of Roald Dahl, a red-haired mischief-maker, a mafia flower plot and Yanis Varoufakis at the INSP Summit… explore June’s street paper covers.

The Homeless World Cup kicks off in Glasgow on Sunday – we caught up with some of the players who are also street paper vendors.