Big Issue vendors left feeling anxious, frightened and ‘scared to go out’ in wake of UK riots

Big Issue works with a number of vendors from the Roma community. Many have been with us for a long time and have found working with us a way to earn, feel valued and build positive futures. They have suffered racist abuse in the past. So, as the rioting and dark mood settled nationally, our frontline staff worked to reassure and to be clear that Big Issue is here for them.  

One vendor in London, who didn’t wish to be identified, told us they’d been told to “go home, Muslim”. They aren’t Muslim. But they showed great patience by giving the verbal abuser the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps, they said, he was having a bad day. 

These are some of our other vendors’ testimonies in the aftermath of the riots and violence which has swept the UK.

• Prisons are full to bursting – and the UK riots have thrown their usefulness back in the spotlight
• Citizens Advice staff vow to keep helping people after office destroyed in far-right riots

Rebeca lives in the Midlands and is a mentor for other vendors  

I feel scared to go out. I had a GP appointment, but they sent me a text to stay indoors and call 111 if I have a problem. It is affecting me, my baby and my partner. He works at McDonald’s and they closed it due to safety fears. I am watching live on TikTok and I’m very scared by the amount of people and by the weapons they have. I feel that I have to stay inside the house to protect myself and my family. 

I feel safe at my pitch as it is a different area to my home, and I know a lot of people in the local area. I have friends and lots of regulars who would look after me. I feel the Roma community could be attacked especially due to what we look like.  

Z, a vendor of three years in London 

I feel very anxious and frightened about the UK situation right now. I’m scared to go out and sell the magazines. I have darker skin and Roma people are often associated with Muslims due to dress.  

I’ve been following all the horrifying scenes on social media and news. I’m worried that this will affect my income from selling the magazine. I have faith in God and I pray every day that everything will settle, and everything will come back to normal. 

D, a vendor who has lived in the Bristol area for six years 

I feel more anxious after the events of the last few days. I think the riots are based on racism towards immigrants, and the Roma community already deal with a lot of racist attitudes. It makes me feel more worried to go into the town centre with my children. However, despite the trouble, I feel safe in my area where I sell. I feel a part of the community I live in and protected by the community around me where when I sell the magazine. 

M lives in Middlesbrough, just off Parliament Road where the riots took place 

It was all very scary. We just closed the windows and doors and hid inside. I am scared to even go to the shops for food. Is this the end of it or will it happen again? I don’t feel safe selling, though  I feel supported by Big Issue who checked in to see if we were OK and if they could help. I am very nervous in my community now. I have lived in Middlesbrough for over 10 years, and this has frightened me. It’s terrible.

MD has lived in Newcastle for 15 years and sells out of town  

I feel very sorry for the children who were killed. These people do not care for the children and are being very racist. I feel afraid to sell on my pitch – it is out of Newcastle but near to Middlesbrough. I have had racist people shouting at me before and this could make things worse. I am selling this week, but will not on Saturday when the people are protesting in Newcastle. I do not feel safe in my community any more as people are joining together causing big problems. 

A statement from Roma support Group

Roma people have moved to the UK to escape racism, segregation in education, severe inequalities in health and housing, and discrimination in employment in their countries of origin. 

As Irina, Roma Big Issue vendor, says: “Our own country, where we were born and where our ancestors were born didn’t offer us as much as the UK. Here in Britain, people come with hope. They hope to do something for their future, for their children, for their family.” 

However, the reality in Britain is not without challenges, and recent events have shown what years of the hostile environment and scapegoating of migrants can lead to.  

“With everything that is happening now, with riots and stabbings, I can’t say that I feel safe… It’s tough and scary,” Irina told us. 

Marija, told us: “These violent events show how asylum seekers and anyone not perceived as white can become targets of hate and discrimination, leaving many feeling unwelcome and marginalised. As a young Roma person, it is disheartening to witness such intolerance continue, despite efforts to promote understanding and acceptance. This ongoing racism is not just an attack on minority communities but an assault on the values of diversity and respect that should define our society.”  

We, Roma Support Group, a charity that has worked with and represented Roma migrants since 1998, strive to build a society where Roma and all minority groups are welcomed, respected and valued. We are reaching out in solidarity to all groups and communities who share this vision, to work together to make this a reality in the UK. 

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How you can help

As the volume of disorder has increased across Britain, so too has the threat felt by Big Issue vendors. Many have told us that they are anxious about selling in towns and cities across the country. They are not alone in avoiding main shopping areas. The British Retail Consortium said there was a significant downturn in footfall. They added that many of their members reported staff feeling unsafe and wary of going into work.

As Big Issue vendors are micro businesses and reliant wholly on sales for income, anything that negatively hits this has a devastating impact. But there are ways to make sure your local vendor feels supported, both on and off pitch.

• Check in with them. See how they are getting on. Buy a magazine or just stop and chat.
• If your local vendor is unable to get to their pitch, you can still buy a subscription from them using our map and they will receive 50% of the proceeds.
• At this tense and difficult time, sales allow us to support all our vendors. You can buy back issues of the magazine online, or take out a subscription.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.