On August 21, more than 100 people attended a special screening of ‘Tropic Thunder’ at Village Cinemas in Geelong, to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness and raise funds for the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup.

Among the audience were players from The Big Issue’s Geelong Street Soccer Program, who since February this year have been attending weekly training at Steampacket Gardens.

Geelong Coach Steve Sodomaco kicked off the night by …

Devo has become a big part of The Big Issue in Western Australia. For four years he has participated in the Street Soccer Program in Western Australia and for six years he has been selling The Big Issue magazine.

Photo of Devo (right) with coach Chris Cornelio at the 2008 National Street Soocer Championships.

He first started playing soccer in his mid twenties and now at 52 he is still involved in the game.

“I like street soccer because it’s relaxed and easy to …

Caulfield Cougars Soccer team has recruited some of our very own street soccer players from The Big Issue’s Street Soccer Program. Some of the street soccer players from the Melbourne Program have taken the field in the suburban amateur league with the Caufield Cougars soccer team.

Caulfield Cougars coach, Jim Theodoropoulos, said he is more than happy to have the street soccer players in the team.

“Having the boys from The Big Issue is just amazing,” Jim said.

“They are polite, hardworking, respectful and fit in just like any of the other players.”

Cougars …

Here in Melbourne we’re all enjoying the first signs of spring, shedding a few layers (and then putting them all back on again!) It was nice to know that in the coldest months our friends at hairdressing and beauty training school, Headmasters Academy were thinking about our vendors.

In July, the staff and students from Headmasters donated scarves, beanies, gloves and tinned soup, presenting boxes groaning with these goodies to The Big Issue office. Our vendors received some very welcome extra …

The Big Issue Street Soccer players around Australia will be staying warm this winter with their new green and gold beanies.

Knit One Give One (Kogo) is a community program whose volunteers have been knitting beanies and scarves for the most vulnerable in the community since 2004. In 2007 Kogo knitted and distributed over 6000 garments and this year plan to break their record.

This year as well as distributing garments to disadvantaged families and those experiencing homelessness, they are putting their green …

We would like to welcome our new State Coordinator for the Street Soccer program in Victoria, Jarrod Gunn.

Jarrod a father of two and a keen follower of the Gunners soccer team in the Premier league first started at the Big Issue ten weeks ago. From then Jarrod has landed quite comfortably into this role and is progressively establishing the nine street soccer programs across the state. The Ballarat and Bendigo programs are just a couple that Jarrod has …