News / The Downs Festival
The Big Issue partners with The Downs Festival
The familiar red tabards of Big Issue sellers will be on site for The Downs Festival once again this weekend.
Following a successful pilot last year, the partnership between organisers of the music event and the magazine with a strong social purpose continues with positive action and a dedicated enrichment programme.
Ms. Lauryn Hill, Grace Jones and Bristol’s own Idles top a stellar lineup for the festival, taking place on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, but organisers also strive to get under the skin of societal issues through their Festivals for Good initiative.
is needed now More than ever
Lauryn Hill headlines this year’s festival (picture from Glastonbury 2019)
This year, two Big Issue vendors who sold programmes on site in 2018, Mike Hall and Josh, will take on dedicated roles on site at the festival, handling accessibility and security.
“I really value the support that I’ve had from the community there. Last year was a fantastic experience,” says Josh, 27, who has been selling the Big Issue in Henleaze for the last 18 months.
He did a stint at The Downs Festival last year and, for 2019, will be working for festival security for half a day before going back to selling the magazine.
“There were quite a few of my regular customers at the festival and it was nice to see them in that different setting,” adds Josh.
“I’ve come a long way in the last 12 months. I hope to go even further.”
The ‘Festivals for Good’ initiative is a programme in which Big Issue vendors sell collaborative festival programmes on the site. There are opportunities to develop this as a long-term scheme to train some of society’s most vulnerable people in skills that could enable them to work at festivals in the future.
Mike Hall (main photo), 30, sells The Big Issue outside Bristol Temple Meads, and will also be helping to improve accessibility at The Downs this year.
“Last year was great. I got to listen to free music all day, how could I complain?” he says.
“I’ve been begging all year to go back again, I enjoyed it that much. It’s a really special thing to be a part of and I can’t wait to get to work on the day.”
Speaking about the partnership, Big Issue editor Paul McNamee says: “It’s tremendous to link up for a second year with The Downs Festival. Again, they hit the mark with the music. What a way to see out the summer.
“And more than that, they put their money where their mouth is. They offer The Big Issue vendors opportunities to earn on site and also to progress in wider careers.
“Some of our team are working on the production side of the event this year. It’s a righteous festival, a fantastic festival and one that The Big Issue is delighted to remain embedded in.”
The speaker lineup at this year’s festival will feature Shappi Khorsandi, Solomon OB, Matt Winning and Femi, with introductions from Mike Hall.
Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton will also speak at the festival
In addition, Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, who was announced as a Big Issue ambassador earlier this year, is going to speak on the main stage before Idles play.
Sabrina slept rough and sold The Big Issue as a teenager in Wales, now she’s one of the most senior female firefighters in the UK and a prize-winning academic and author.
The Downs co-founder Tom Paine says: “It felt right to dedicate an area to social causes plus local, national and international issues that we believe people should learn more about.
“It gives the festival purpose.”
The Downs also hopes to help people in the city facing homelessness by raising money for Caring In Bristol.
Organisers say they are also determined to keep the event’s environmental impact to an absolute minimum and climate activists, Extinction Rebellion, will be on site.
The special edition of The Big Issue, complete with festival programme, is available to buy from Monday, August 26 for £2.50 across Wales and the South West.
Main photo of Mike Hall taken by Francesca Stone
Read more: ‘The Big Issue has helped me become myself again’
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