Our Vendor Impact
The pandemic hit The Big Issue hard.
Between March 2020 and April 2021, The Big Issue supported 3,027 Big Issue vendors to earn a legitimate income through selling Big Issue magazines on the street of the UK.
We also provided over £1.3m of direct financial support, reducing the increase of housing debt during the pandemic and likelihood of eviction. We continue to supply vendors with PPE worth over £142,455 keeping themselves, stakeholders and the public safe whilst selling the Big Issue.
Over the past year we have continued to place our vendors at the heart of our work. For the first time in 30 years The Big Issue could not be sold, removing the financial safety net (an average collective income of £78,000 per week) forcing us to quickly adjust and adapt how we work. Like many, we continued to deliver emotional and practical support virtually whilst continuously asking vendors what they needed.
Vendor support during lockdown: March 2020-December 2020
- £100,000 has been distributed since Christmas. It went out as cash, supermarket vouchers and other support payments towards rent, utility bills and family support costs.
- We equipped all 2745 new and returning vendors with a Comeback kit – a bag with essential PPE, masks, hand sanitiser, wipes. We spent £142,455 on PPE.
- Acceleration to cashless selling means over 25% have card readers and another 25% are ready to ‘go cashless’.
Vendor support during 2nd lockdown: December 2020-April 2021
- Over 1,000 of our most vulnerable vendors were supported with direct payments and supermarket vouchers valuing £68,575
- Approving 136 applications to the Vendor support Fund helped families to purchase specific essential items totaling £8,911
- 1,822 vendors took up the subsidy scheme (The Big Issue contributed 50p for each magazine) so each vendors receiving an average benefit of £95.
Wellbeing support during 2021 lockdown: December 2020-April 2021
- Our Frontline staff made 4,820 calls to 1,781 individual vendors to discuss their immediate support needs and offer advice and support.
- Of those 1,781 vendors 23% are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, with six per cent rough sleeping on the streets of the UK.
- Chart showing topic of wellbeing conversations during lockdown.
- These figures show that during periods of lockdown and isolation, Big Issue vendors feel as much in need of support focused on their own wellbeing as they are of financial support.
- Fifty-five per cent of calls focusing on wellbeing dealt directly with vendors’ mental health, particularly feelings of loneliness and social isolation
Vendor Voices
Mark Worthington, Co-op, Ivybridge
With the help of The Big Issue, I was housed in a little bungalow.
John Williams, Waterstones, Swansea
I called The Big Issue when I was in lockdown because I wanted to hear a friendly voice.
Easton Christian, White City tube, London
Whenever I need to use the computer, the people in The Big Issue office are there for me.
Simone Gill, Tesco Metro, Plymouth
Selling The Big Issue helped me save for a deposit for a new place.
Support us today
Your gift today will mean Big Issue vendors will get the support they need to progress forward in life. It will mean vendors who are struggling with their mental health are supported to access vital advice and guidance services, those facing financial hardship could receive food and utility support and vulnerably housed vendors are supported gain emergency/sheltered accommodation.
Related Content
Group Impact Report 2021
Our Programmes
