# Southampton FC and The Big Issue in media partnership

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/08/07/southampton-fc-big-issue-media-partnership/
- Published: 2017-08-07T23:58:58+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Southampton Football Club is partnering with The Big Issue to provide new opportunities
for Big Issue vendors in their local community.**

From today a special Southampton FC edition of [The Big Issue](http://www.bigissue.com)
will be sold by vendors across Southampton and the surrounding area, and it will
be distributed as the official match-day programme at the club’s first game of the
season versus Swansea City on Saturday 12th August. It is also available for sale
from [The Big Issue online shop](https://www.bigissueshop.com/). The issue costs
£2.50.

As part of the initiative, Big Issue vendors are being given the opportunity to 
enrol in an eight week[ employability programme](https://www.curriculosolutions.com/library/primary-programme-hub/primary-programme),
run by Saints Foundation, which will equip them with job-ready skills and offer 
work placements across the club.

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When they complete the course, vendors will be able to apply for long-term appointments
with Southampton Football Club. 

Both the club’s [Saints Foundation](http://saintsfoundation.co.uk) and The Big Issue
aim to improve the lives of vulnerable adults.

Greg Baker, Head of Saints Foundation and Community Partnerships at Southampton 
Football Club,said: “We’re delighted to help provide adults in and around the area
with opportunities and skills they need to take the first step towards a fruitful
career – whether that be with Southampton Football Club or elsewhere – and we hope
to see fans and residents alike get involved with the campaign to support local 
vendors.”

Big Issue vendor, Lee Barnes, said: “When I first started to sell the magazine, 
I’d hide behind the magazine, but The Big Issue brought myself out a bit more, developed
me a bit more, given me a bit of confidence and made me see that there may be a 
future beyond this.”

 

Big Issue MD Russell Blackman, added: “The Big Issue looks forward to developing
a partnership that will look to harness the passion of the club and its fan base
to inspire, support and further our mission to dismantle poverty through the creation
of opportunity.”

 * **[Footballers sign Common Goal pledge to give 1% of salary to charity](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/08/31/footballers-sign-common-goal-pledge-give-1-salary-charity/)**(
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 * **[Arsenal squad continues Christmas tradition of annual charity matchday](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/12/22/arsenal-squad-continues-christmas-tradition-annual-charity-matchday/)**(
   22 December 2017)
 * **[Grow the Game seeks under-represented groups for funding](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/02/06/grow-game-seeks-represented-groups-funding/)**(
   6 February 2018)

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