Annual report

2013—2014

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Street papers exist to tackle homelessness and

poverty. Homeless vendors buy copies of the street

paper for half the cover price and sell them on, in order

to earn an income and lift themselves out of poverty.

Many street papers also offer social support and

training.

INSP supports and develops 123 street paper

organisations in 42 countries. We build their capacity

and sustainability by providing: editorial support;

business development support; training; PR and

marketing; best practice examples; start-up support;

income-generation opportunities; social development

support; advocacy; research findings; accreditation;

networking opportunities; and innovative network

projects.

We achieve our goals by focusing on the following aims:

1. To build the capacity and effectiveness of street papers

2. To enhance the editorial content of street papers

3. To provide a global community for street papers

4. To promote the concept of street papers

5. To be financially sustainable

Shedia vendor (Orthodoxia Skoura)

(Image courtesy of Shedia )

Cover image courtesy of Becky Duncan

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“I’m proud to announce that over the course of the past year, our hard-working

vendors sold 23.5 million street papers. That’s £25 million ($42 million USD) into

the pockets of some of the poorest people in our towns and cities. Thank you to

all my street paper colleagues around the world for making this happen and for

working together, learning from, and inspiring each other. I thank my fellow

board members for their commitment and energy over the past year, and on

behalf of all of us, I would like to thank Maree and the INSP team for their tireless

work and professionalism in supporting our network.”

From our Chairperson

Contents:

4 People 5 Network 6 News service 8 Conference 9 Awards 10 Vendor Week 11 The Big Sell-Off 12 Events 13 Innovation 14 Supporters & accounts

That’s £25 million into the pockets

of some of the poorest people in

our towns and cities.

“ “

“It’s a great honour to lead INSP into its 20th year and to work with so many

inspiring colleagues around the world. I’m proud of what we have achieved over

the past year and I’m also very grateful to our staff and board for everything they

have done for our network. I’m excited about the future for the street paper

concept and for what we can do together as a network. I’m looking forward to

supporting our members, not only to be great publications, but also strong and

sustainable social businesses. The need for our network is as strong as ever and I

want us to be here in another 20 years, supporting the people who need us.”

From our Chief Executive

Top image: Janos, a vendor of Straatnieuws (Netherlands)

Maree Aldam

Serge Lareault

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Chief Executive: Maree Aldam

Project Manager: Zoe Greenfield

Communications Manager: Laura Dunlop

Development Officer: David Rosie

Former staff:

Project Manager: Helen Harvey

(March 2014)

Executive Director: Lisa Maclean

(August 2013)

Editor: Danielle Batist

(April 2013)

Chair: Serge Lareault (Canada)

Vice-Chair / Treasurer: Trudy Vlok

(South Africa)

Secretary: Steven Persson (Australia)

Director: Fay Selvan (UK)

Director: Paola Gallo (Switzerland)

Former board directors (August 2013):

Arkady Tyurin (Russia)

Gabriele Koch (Germany)

Throughout 2013—14, we also worked with

freelance Scottish journalist Billy Briggs as

our news service editor, supported by

editorial intern Callum McSorley.

We also facilitated five other internships

throughout the period, supporting the

editorial service, events and

communications.

A global network of over 200 volunteer

translators supported our member

communication and editorial support in 26

languages.

Staff

Board of Directors

Consultants & volunteers

Honorary positions

Honorary President:

David Schlesinger - Managing Director, Tripod

Advisors (Former Chairman, Thomson Reuters

China; fomer Editor-in-Chief, Reuters News)

Patrons:

Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Sadie Docherty

Former Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter

Honorary Editor:

Tom Thomson, Managing Editor, the Herald &

Times Group

Ambassadors:

Paulo Coelho (Brazilian Author)

Mariane Pearl (French Journalist)

Jon Snow (Newscaster, Channel 4 News)

Irvine Welsh (Scottish Author)

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We provide start-up support, advice and

toolkits to organisations and individuals

interested in setting up street papers. In

2013, we responded to 82 enquiries

relating to street paper development in

36 countries. Over the course of the

year, we welcomed 10 street papers to our network – 6 in Europe and 4 in the

USA. By the end of the year, our network

included 123 street papers in 42

countries. Click here to view our

members.

Regional networks:

At the end of 2013, the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) restructured to become an informal volunteer network, rather than a business entity. INSP continues to support the US and Canadian street papers as full INSP members. In 2015, we are taking our annual conference to Seattle (hosted by Real Change), so we are looking forward to seeing many of our North American there.

We also continue to work closely with the INSP ‘German language platform’ (in Germany, Austria & Switzerland); and several other small regional street paper networks around the world.

INSP supports 123 street papers in 42 countries (Photo: Becky Duncan)

network

INSP’s support has been invaluable to us.

Being able to draw from the network's

knowledge and experience has truly helped in

us preparing as well as possible for the

challenges we have faced so far and for the

challenges that lie ahead. We have made dear

new friends who share our ethos worldwide.

We received support from colleague street

papers from Britain to Serbia and from Canada

to Japan and many more. Together we can

make a difference. INSP and its members prove

just that.

Chris Alefantis (Shedia, Greece)

“

“

In an exclusive interview with INSP, Usain Bolt talked about sprinting and how he’s committed to helping Jamaica’s children. The Big Issue in the North [pictured above], German street paper Strassenfeger, and American street papers One Step Away and StreetWise all published the INSP interview.

Our news service is one of our key member services, providing editorial support to street

papers to build their capacity and quality, and increase vendors’ sales. In 2013 we made

more than 1,300 articles available through our news service. 71% of our

members published almost half a million pounds worth of content free of charge,

including over 1,700 stories and over 2,300 images. Our team of 200+ volunteer

translators translated over 330 articles in 26 languages for our street papers. We

also provided free content to 10 start-up street papers to help them compile their first

editions.

Some of our exclusive content in 2013:

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Sir Richard spoke to INSP about his plans to travel to space and build a hotel on the moon. The interview was published by The Big Issue South Africa [pictured above], Shedia (Greece), BISS (Germany), Macadam (France), The Big Issue Korea, The Journey (USA), L'Itinéraire (Canada), StreetWise (USA) and =Norge (Norway).

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Each year, we arrange a high profile

Christmas story for our members, to

maximise sales and publicity during

the festive period.

Scottish author Irvine Welsh (an

INSP ambassador) wrote an

exclusive short story for us in 2013.

‘He Ain’t Lager’ updated us on the

adventures of ‘Begbie’, his infamous

character from his novels

Trainspotting and its sequel Porno.

The story was published by 32

street papers in 16 countries, and

received widespread international

publicity and media coverage,

helping to boost vendors’ sales over

the holiday period.

‘He Ain’t Lager’

We were delighted to have Welsh's

story in our street paper and we got

positive feedback from our readers.

We had wider media attention, all the

headlines were, like ‘Irvine Welsh has

a story in the new edition of Lice v

Lice…’

Maja Nedelkovska (Lice v lice, Macedonia)

“ “

Christmas story:

I became an INSP

ambassador not because

I'm disadvantaged in the

current housing market,

but privileged by it. I see

so many friends

struggling to keep a

home together, or trying

to rebuild one.

Irvine Welsh

“

“

‘Begbie’ as the cover star of The Big Issue UK’s Christmas edition

Some of the media coverage announcing

that Irvine Welsh had written for INSP

conference

Our annual conference, hosted in a

different city each year, is the highlight

of the international street paper

calendar. It brings our members together

for training workshops, consultancy

sessions, and opportunities for

networking and sharing best practice.

Our 17th Annual Conference ‘INSPiring

street papers in a changing world’ was

held in Munich (from 29th July - 1st

August) in partnership with BISS, one of

INSP’s

founding

members.

Over 100 delegates from 30 countries attended

Optional training day for small and emerging street papers

German language street paper day ‘Welcome to Munich’ Civic Reception hosted

at Munich City Hall 20 specialised workshops delivered An innovation exchange featuring new ideas

from 7 street papers Funds raised to offer travel bursaries to 30

delegates Alternative city tours BISS movie screening at Olympic Park. Media coverage (read more here)

Photos: Stephanie Dillig

“First INSP conference and it

was truly valuable. Much to

share with my team at home.

Happy to participate and I

hope to return. Thank you!” -

Amy Roe (Real Change, USA)

Highlights:

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Our awards aim to highlight the outstanding, independent editorial and social enterprise

achievements of street papers; and their contribution to social justice.

The 2013 International Street Paper Awards received 191 entries, from 51 street papers in 25

countries. Winners were shortlisted by a panel of experts, and then voted on across nine

categories by a high-profile panel of media professionals. Winners were presented at a ceremony on

the final evening of our conference in Munich.

awards

2013 winning entries:

Best Feature Story: 'Storm about the

Shelters' by Ryan Gallagher, The Big

Issue in the North (UK)

Best Cover: 'Face to Face' by Lisa

Mansfield, The Big Issue Australia

Best Interview: 'Mayoral Candidate

Conversations' by Andrew Krinks, The

Contributor (USA)

Best Photograph: 'In the Bathtub' by

Helga C. Theilgaard, Hus Forbi

(Denmark)

Best Vendor Essay: 'Our daily bread' by

Andrea Hoschek, Apropos (Austria)

Best Design: 'Christmas book 2012' by

=Norge (Norway) & 'The Diamond Jubilee

Edition' by The Big Issue UK (joint winners)

Special Award for External Press:

Homeless Banker hits rock bottom' by

Jonathan Owen, The Independent on

Sunday (UK)

Social Development Award: The Big Issue

Australia

Social Enterprise Award: Erlik Norge (Norway)

Outstanding Contribution to the Street Paper Movement: The Big Issue South Africa

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Best Photograph Best Cover Winner of Best Vendor Essay

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iring people

International Street Paper Vendor Week

Launched in 2013, ’International Street Paper Vendor Week‘ is an annual INSP event that takes place during the first week in February.

It is an international programme of events and activities that celebrates street paper vendors, and challenges perceptions of poverty and homelessness.

In 2014, over 10,000 vendors

benefitted from Vendor Week activities

and publicity; a total of 32 street

papers in 16 countries participated in

the events; the combined street paper

editorial coverage on Vendor Week

reached nearly 1 million readers; social

media coverage reached a combined

audience of over 260,000 people;

mainstream media coverage of Vendor

Week 2013 reached over 5.9 million

people via at least 82 different media

outlets (see media coverage here).

Lice v lice (Macedonia) The Big Issue Japan

Sometimes it takes me

all day to sell 2 copies. I

think this type of awareness

is great.

Florian 'Anakin' Ciobanu

(Big Issue vendor, Glasgow)

“ “

“I like being a Big Issue

vendor because I like

being out and meeting

other people.”

John White (Big Issue

vendor, Glasgow)

Highlights:

Facebook profile of Megafon (Norway)

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The Big Sell-Off

The Big Sell-Off aims to raise awareness of street papers

and their vendors, boost morale and sales, raise the profile

of INSP and street papers and also raise funds through guest

vendors' individual online sponsorship pages.

As part of Vendor Week 2014, celebrities, CEOs, media

executives and government ministers took to the streets of

Glasgow and Edinburgh to try their hand at selling The Big

Issue as part of our first ‘Big Sell-Off event.

30 guest vendors took part in our first Big Sell-Off, taking

time out of their busy schedules to find out what life is like

for real street paper vendors.

Similar events were run during Vendor Week 2014 by The

Big Issue Australia (our original inspiration for The Big Sell-

Off), Shedia (Greece), L'Itinéraire (Canada), Ground Cover

News (USA) and Bodo (Germany).

Guest vendor - ex footballer Ally Dawson

Photo: Jamie Simpson (Herald & Times)

“We see Big Issue vendors all over the place; we see homeless

people and it's easy to walk by. It is worth reminding the wider

public that homelessness is still a massive issue.”

Greg McHugh, actor, comedian & 2014 ‘guest vendor’ [Pictured in the newspaper clipping above right]

Above & right: UK media coverage of The Big Sell-Off

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iring events

Referendum interviews

At the start of 2014, we kicked of our 20th

anniversary year by contributing to an important

debate in Scotland.

In the year of the referendum on Scottish

independence, we held two public events at

Glasgow’s Mitchell Theatre with the BBC's James

Naughtie [pictured top right] interviewing leaders

from both sides of the debate.

The events helped us to raise funds (through ticket

sales) and raise the profile of INSP and street papers

to a Scottish audience though the event and the

media coverage.

The first event saw James Naughtie interview

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond [pictured

right], to a sell-our crowd at the Mitchell Theatre in

Glasgow on 16th January 2014.

The second event took place on Thursday 13th

March, with MP and ‘Better Together’ leader Alistair

Darling [pictured right] interviewed by James

Naughtie.

The events were organised by INSP, with support

from Glasgow Life, and in partnership with The

Herald newspaper as part of their involvement with

the Fraser of Allander Lecture Series with

Strathclyde University.

Photos: Jamie Simpson, Mark Gibson (Herald & Times) 12

Adventures in Publishing

In 2013, we were invited to set the brief for the 'Master Class' at Brand Perfect's Adventures in Publishing conference in New York. We asked delegates 'How can we take the street paper network into the digital age’? The group spent an afternoon working on ideas for the future of the street paper concept, exploring digital publishing, branding, cashless payments and advertising. Read more.

iring innovation

Social Innovation Competition Our digital street paper project made it to the finals of the European Social Innovation Competition, organised by the European Commission. Our project made it through 605 entries from 30 countries to reach the semi finals. Together with 29 other semi-finalists, we were invited to a 2-day Social Innovation Academy in Amsterdam to develop our project, supported by the Euclid Network, Nesta and KennisLand.

Digital developments

INSP uses its position to detect trends and identify opportunities to develop the street paper model, and support the network to develop and stay relevant in a changing world. In 2012, we explored and trialled technology for the world’s first digital street paper. Over the course of the past year, we have continued to explore ways to support our network into the digital age, whilst keeping the vendor at the heart of the street paper model.

Photo: Colin Mearns (Herald & Times)

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Summary of financial statements (year ending 31st Dec 2013): Our work is made possible through generous contributions from a range of supporters, including trusts and foundations, government agencies, media, business and individual donors and supporters. We are deeply grateful for this support. In 2013-14, our partners included:

Government, trusts & foundations: Adopt an Intern | Comic Relief | Community Jobs Scotland | Creative Internships | Esmée Fairbairn Foundation | European Commission | Glasgow City Council | Glasgow Life | Health Foundation | Scottish Government | Souter Charitable Trust | Stavros Niarchos Foundation | Yorkshire & Clydesdale Bank Foundation

Companies: 999 Design | Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) | Edelman PR | Glasgow Housing Association (Wheatley Group) | Inner Ear | Jobs & Business Glasgow | Land Securities | Morton Fraser (Iain Meiklejohn) | Open Ear Music | PwC Scotland | TC Young | Unity Trust Bank

Supporting members: BISS | The Big Issue Australia | L'Itinéraire | Erlik Norge | The Big Issue UK

National Advisory Group: Click here for more details.

Media: BBC Scotland | GenderLinks | Guardian Development | Herald & Times Group | InDepth News | Inter Press Service | Thomson Reuters

Others: Alex Salmond MSP (First Minister of Scotland) | Alistair Darling MP | Aye Write! Glasgow’s Book Festival | Better Together | British Council Scotland | Conference travel bursary sponsors (click here to view) | Glasgow Chamber of Commerce | FEANTSA | Glasgow City Marketing Bureau | Glasgow Regeneration Agency | Herald & Times Group (Tom Thomson & Tim Blott) | Homeless World Cup | Individual donors (various) | Merchant’s House of Glasgow | Mitchell Library | NIDOS | Rosetta Foundation | Sir Tom Stoppard | Tods Murray LLP | Standard Life | University of Strathclyde | University of Strathclyde Business School | Wim de Preter

INCOME 2013 Total (£) Total Funds 2013 (£)

Total Funds 2012 (£)

Donations – General 23,989 15,527

Donations – News Service (General) - 25,000

Donations – Digital Street Papers - 2,976

Grants – Core Funding 57,810 33,720

Grants – INSP conference 19,249 -

Grants – Enterprise Growth Fund (EGF) - 38,450

Grants – Comic Relief Nigeria 5,000 20,000

Grants – INSP News Service (General) - 1,855

Grants – ‘Community Jobs Scotland’ 4,220 12,046

Grants – INSP News Service (EU Project) - 79,548

Grants – Digital Street Paper Project - 500

Grants – Vendor Week 8,750 -

Fees – Membership fees 41,171 28,491

Fees – Conference delegate fees 28,279 -

Other income - 500

Events – fundraising 2,098 15,964

Events – sponsorship 9,740 -

Bank interest 137 144

TOTAL 200,443 274,721

EXPENDITURE 2013 Total (£) Total Funds 2013 (£)

Total Funds 2012 (£)

Support of Street Papers 137,148 51,890

INSP Conference 37,280 439

Nigeria street paper project 5,000 20,000

INSP News Service (General) 24,928 1,927

Enterprise Development (EGF) - 38,450

Malawi Project - 26,423

INSP News Service (EU Project) - 92,223

Capacity building project - 3

INSP Partnering Scheme 2,796 8,134

Burundi & Zambia Project - 27,558

African Street Paper Network - 30,868

‘Community Jobs Scotland’ 3,933 11,135

Vendor Photography Project 276 2

Digital Street Paper Project 660 12,815

Vendor Week 10,000 -

Cost of generating funds 173 459

Governance costs 10,211 11,852

TOTAL 232,405 334,178

BALANCE SHEET (£) Total Funds 2013 (£)

Total Funds 2012 (£)

Fixed assets

Tangible Assets 559 1,624

Current Assets

Debtors 1,079 32,940

Cash at Bank 88,913 83,526

TOTAL 89,992 116,466

Creditors due within 1 year (16,949) (12,485)

Net current assets 73,043 103,981

Total assets less current liabilities 73,642 105,605

Net assets 73,642 105,605

Funds

Restricted Income funds 3,142 27,594

Unrestricted income funds 70,500 78,011

TOTAL FUNDS 73,642 105,605

14 These financial statements were examined by Nelson Gilmour Smith & CO

and approved by the INSP Directors in March 2014