Issue 1482

Pearls of wisdom
This is the thirtieth year of publishing Big Issue North and also unfortunately the last. Big Life group chief executive Fay Selvan explains why the difficult anniversary decision has been taken with the interests of our vendors at heart. Plus, a timeline of our achievements and editor Kevin Gopal’s farewell note.

Challenging and surreal
After years of austerity decimating our public services, social work is characterised by stress, burnout and job vacancies. Richard Wills joined the exodus from the profession in recent years but is using his pen to call for change.

Faith in culture
Crazy P secured their place in the dance halls of fame in the mid-1990s. Danielle Moore and Jim Baron tell Martin Guttridge-Hewitt how they’re now reaching a new generation of listeners.

Plus
Deputy editor Antonia Charlesworth and producer Christian Lisseman sign off in style, and our critics Dan Whitehead and Richard Smirke supply their last authoritative reviews.