STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

By Deb Baxter- The Body Shop
Every night 46 000 Australian women sleep rough or in non-secure housing. The largest single cause of homelessness in Australia is domestic and family violence, which overwhelmingly affects women and children.

While The Big Issue Street Magazine Enterprise has shown remarkable outcomes and positive change predominantly for men, many homeless and disadvantaged women do not have a means to make money; presenting with a far greater and more complex range of needs including safety and security (often caused by a history of abuse), mental and physical health (sexual and pregnancy related), disability, drug and alcohol dependency and childcare. As such, they face limited opportunities to enter the workforce in a secure and appropriate way.

The Women’s Subscriptions Enterprise (WSE)
In August 2010 The Big Issue launched a new initiative – to address the needs of homeless and marginalised women.
Following an extensive Feasibility Study funded by the Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon Tanya Plibersek, MP, The Big Issue recognised the need to establish a viable and sustainable social enterprise that could provide appropriate employment, training and pathway opportunities for disadvantaged women in vulnerable situations; giving them financial independence and ultimately allowing them to change their lives and have control over their futures.
The Women’s Subscription Enterprise, a new social enterprise by The Big Issue Australia was launched, providing employment, training and pathways opportunities for disadvantaged women.

How does it work?
Through the sale of subscriptions (subs) to The Big Issue magazine, homeless and disadvantaged women are employed to work in a Distribution Centre, sorting, collating and inserting magazines for distribution to subscribers every fortnight. As well as paid employment, the women will also receive ongoing training and pathways opportunities, and the chance to develop their skills in a safe, secure and rewarding environment.

From Sunday February 27 – Sunday March 27, 2011 and coinciding with International Women's Day on March 8, The Body Shop Australia will be raising awareness of the issue of women’s homelessness, selling 3month $39 and 12month $155 subscriptions to The Big Issue and collecting messages of support for women working at the Women’s Subscription Enterprise.
For every 100 subscriptions sold, the Enterprise can employ one woman. The more subscriptions sold, the more women can be employed.

The on-the-job training the women receive and new skills they acquire, is essential in helping to develop their skills and confidence and providing financial independence. It will help the women to lift themselves and their children from the cycle of poverty and build a successful future whilst positively impacting the Australian community.
If you would like to purchase a subscription to The Big Issue, drop in to your local The Body Shop or visit http://www.isubscribe.com.au/bigissue/