THE BIG ISSUE The Big Issue - 11 January 2016 | Page 24

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FILL ’EM UP: WHAT’S NEXT
ALL UNDER
ONE ROOF
We started with empty houses but with more cuts on the way in the
coming year, The Big Issue’s Fill ’Em Up campaign is reaching further
in 2016 – and here’s how you can play your part
T
he Big Issue started our campaign
to Fill ’Em Up last year as the
scandal of houses and useful
buildings lying empty across
the UK became increasingly
apparent. We asked you to come
to us with your ideas for buildings
that could be brought back into
use, and you responded in droves. We’ve been
featuring your ideas in our regular updates in the
magazine and online.
But it has become clear that there is something
bigger going on in Britain; the generous responses to
the flooding in northern England and Scotland shows
that people want to roll up their sleeves and make
change happen.
Gary Neville inspired many by opening up the
doors of Manchester Stock Exchange to rough
sleepers while it lies empty awaiting renovation, and
the Turner Prize-winning group Assemble’s Granby
Four Streets community-rebuilding project showed
that it all starts with a good idea – and the energy and
skills to make it happen.
In parts of Britain there are 10 empty homes for
every homeless family. The Empty Homes Agency
estimates there are more than 635,000 empty homes
in England alone – before factoring in vacant shops
and oices that could be used for housing. A growing
movement of people and organisations are working
to bring them back into use.
But housing is just the beginning. As a new raft of
deep cuts to local council budgets looms in 2016, the
axe is likely to fall on many more buildings that are at
the heart of communities.
So we also want to help all of you who are battling
to save services that are vital to your communities,
whether that’s old libraries whose doors are about to
shut or community centres facing cuts and closure.
We realise it’s not always easy to find the help you
need. So we will be your hub for sharing ideas,
information, and asking for help. This will gather
momentum during 2016, so whether you are a
community group, individual, charity or social enter-
prise, if you have knowledge, skills or ideas to share
tell us and we’ll pass it on – and let us know your
success stories, so you can inspire others too.
THE BIG ISSUE / p24 / January 11-17 2016
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