09-02-2025
World's largest street newspaper collection donated to Glasgow university
The world's largest collection of street newspapers has been donated to a Glasgow university.
The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) has handed over around 8,000 newspapers and magazines, including editions of The Big Issue, to Glasgow Caledonian University.
The publications have been sold by vendors experiencing homelessness and poverty.
The Glasgow-based charity, founded in 1994, represents 92 street papers in 35 countries.
Kirsty Menzies, Assistant Archivist at Glasgow Caledonian University, with Mike Findlay-Agnew, Chief Executive of the International Network of Street Papers (Image: Supplied) Many of the papers contain stories written by the vendors themselves, sharing personal experiences of homelessness and poverty from around the world.
Kirsty Menzies, assistant archivist at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: "We're very excited as the collection contains 30 years of social history, not just in the UK but internationally.
"These publications have given the homeless a voice, not just on poverty, but a range of social issues, which makes the collection a fantastic resource for our students, researchers, and the public."
(Image: Supplied) The Big Issue, which is part of the collection, was founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in 1991 and supports thousands of people across the UK to earn a legitimate income by selling the magazine.
Sales generated a collective income of around £4 million last year.
The archive is set to raise awareness about the existence of street papers in other countries and demonstrate the achievements of international cooperation and collaboration.
Mike Findlay-Agnew, chief executive of INSP, said: "It is great that our rich archive of street papers is going to a suitable home.
"Glasgow Caledonian University is strongly committed to social justice and therefore seems the perfect fit for our archive of street papers.
"I am hoping this will lead to more partnership working between INSP and Glasgow Caledonian in the future."
