Breaking barriers: Why financial and digital inclusion is vital for Big Issue vendors

Today, the gap between the digitally connected and disconnected is wider than ever. Ofcom research shows 20% of individuals who earn less than £11,500 per year don’t have access to a connected device. This is why financial and digital inclusion is a critical pillar of work at the Big Issue.

For Big Issue vendors, many of whom battle the daily realities of poverty, this divide can be an insurmountable barrier to progress. As a support worker for Big Issue, I’ve seen first-hand the struggles that financial and digital exclusion bring. Research has estimated that newly digitally included people could save £444 per year, by accessing digital services and products. 

We aim to equip vendors with the skills, tools, and confidence to overcome challenges and break the cycle of poverty. 

Why financial and digital inclusion matters

At the Big Issue, we have identified through our impact strategy, five critical areas essential to dismantling poverty. Financial and digital inclusion is among the most recent and vital.

The digital world offers immense benefits: access to better health information, job opportunities, education, and even social connections. However, many Big Issue vendors and others who are excluded feel these opportunities are out of reach.

Exclusion also leads to poorer health outcomes, increased isolation, and fewer paths to employment. When services such as health, housing, and job applications move online, people without access or skills get left behind. Unfortunately, people in poverty are more likely to be digitally excluded, which in turn, makes escaping poverty even harder. For many vendors, this exclusion means they lack a voice and visibility in a world that increasingly operates online. 

The barriers to financial and digital inclusion

There are several barriers to financial and digital inclusion that our vendors face: access, skills, confidence, and motivation. 

• Access: Many vendors simply don’t have the funds to afford smartphones, laptops, or broadband connections. 

• Skills: For those with access, navigating the digital world can be intimidating due to a lack of knowledge.

• Confidence: Some vendors feel overwhelmed by going online, fearing they can’t keep up or will make mistakes

• Motivation: Many people don’t realize how much they’re missing out on by not being digitally connected.

How the Big Issue support team is changing the narrative

At Big Issue, through our support services, we are actively tackling these challenges through our financial and digital inclusion initiatives. Our Connect programme, for example, offers one-on-one support tailored to each vendor’s personal goals and learning style. We understand that each individual’s journey is different, and our trained staff work with vendors at their own pace to ensure they get the most from our services. 

Here’s how we help:

• Providing access: Thanks to our partnership with the National Data Bank, we offer free data plans to vendors who need them. We also provide digital devices, such as mobile phones (through our partnership with gifgaff), laptops, and tablets, to those who are struggling to connect. 

• Building skills and confidence: Our support goes beyond just providing devices. We work closely with vendors to help them understand how to use these tools effectively. This includes setting up devices, navigating apps, and even managing e-commerce as part of their cashless sales systems. 

• Navigating online services: We also assist vendors in applying for vital services online, from health and housing to immigration status updates and benefit claims through the DWP’s universal credit portal.

• Financial literacy: Vendors receive guidance on managing their finances through online tools, accessing debt relief services like StepChange, and getting financial advice through Citizens Advice. We also work with the Money and Pensions Service to deliver money guidance to Big Issue vendors.

Big Issue 2023 financial & digital inclusion impact:

• We supported 460 individuals with financial and digital inclusion, helping them with budgeting, accessing banking services, and claiming the benefits they’re entitled to.

• 230 hours of digital skills training delivered to 196 individuals. 

• 234 new vendors supported to accept cashless payments, which on average creates £520 a year in additional income. 

A pathway to independence

Our UK offices are more than restocking points – they’re support hubs where vendors can meet with our team, develop action plans, learn skills, and get help to thrive digitally. We provide vendors with the tools for financial and digital independence and success in the modern world.

It’s about giving vendors the ability to take control of their lives, access the services they need, and find opportunities they never thought possible. In doing so, we’re not just helping people survive—we’re helping them thrive. 

If you’d like to learn more about Big Issue’s financial and digital inclusion work, please contact gwyn@bigissue.comor visit our impact page here.