BIG ISSUE GROUP
How we are helping vendors – and many more people – through the cost of living crisis
Big Issue gave hundreds of our vendors a hand up during the cost of living crisis – and support from Big Issue Group helped millions more. Overall, 7.4 million people in the UK were impacted by Big Issue Group’s systems of support or engaged with our products: an increase of 58 per cent in a year.
The new figures just published in our annual impact report reveal that during 2022, we worked with 3,637 vendors – 876 of whom came to us to sell for the first time, a 10 per cent increase on the previous year.
The men and women who earn a living with Big Issue buy magazines for £2 and sell them on for £4. Sixty-nine per cent of our new vendors in 2022, joined to make The Big Issue their main income or an important additional way to earn money. Overall, a staggering £3.76 million was earned by vendors in 2022. This incredible amount goes directly into the pockets of the most marginalised people in the country.
We are helping sellers adapt to the changing economic landscape too. A total of 1,319 vendors have now been supported to accept contactless payments – 404 in 2022 alone – with 221 vendors provided with Zettle card readers and 205 smartphones given out. This means 51 per cent of vendors are able to accept cashless payments, which dramatically helps increase their sales.
The impact of Big Issue Group goes far beyond this magazine. Our mission is extended through Big Issue Invest’s investments into charities and social enterprises who
