- Big Issue Group makes strides towards ambitious goal, of 11million people every year engaging with its products and services by end of 2026.
- Big Issue Group reach rises by an extraordinary 58% YOY during cost of living crisis, up from 4.7m to 7.4m
- Organisation saw a 10% YOY increase of vendor numbers due to the cost of living crisis
- £3.76 million was collectively earned by vendors in 2022
- Organisation continues to innovate with further ventures to enable more people affected by poverty to earn, learn and thrive
Today (Thursday 18th May) the Big Issue Group (BIG), the leading social enterprise and B-Corp, has released its 2022 Group Impact Report.
The report shows that its products and services have reached 7.4 million people. A 58% increase YOY, as BIG reaches more people that are impacted by the cost of living crisis and those who want to support the people most affected by this crisis.
The report also showed that the number of vendors selling the magazine increased by 10% YOY, while collective earnings for vendors rose by 38% to £3.76m. There has been a 50% growth in Bigissue.com readers, with audiences wanting to read more about the social issues of today.
Through the 132 investments made via Big Issue Invest, into social enterprises and charities in 2022, (BIG) has extended its core group mission through these investees, to support 2.1m people in the UK, with 92% of these investments contributing to creating core solutions to solving poverty.
The report revealed that demand for food and fuel support from vendors had increased sevenfold. With 14m people in the UK living in poverty[1], 9.7 million adults experiencing food insecurity[2] this year. 7.2m people going without basics, 4.7m people now behind on their bills[3] and 1.7 million people in the UK now facing financial destitution, or even worse, homelessness[4]. The economic landscape has indisputably had an impact on the numbers of people needing to turn to selling the magazine to make ends meet.
Which is why the organisation has bolstered support for its vendors, to ensure vendors are able to sell as many copies of the magazine as possible. Throughout 2022, BIG supported vendors with digital and financial inclusion programmes to increase earnings. 221 vendors were provided with Zettle card readers and 205 smartphones were given to vendors. 50% of Big Issue vendors in an average week are now able to accept cashless payments.