OUR VENDORS
Readers’ act of kindness for Bournemouth vendor who met Prince William. It’s been quite the month for Big Issue’s Karl Burns
Bournemouth town square vendor Karl Burns went from his pitch to meeting Prince William alongside Paul Gascoigne last month (on 7 September), earning himself a spot on the cover of the magazine. The chance encounter saw the future king buy a magazine from Karl – and even buy him lunch, too.
After the whirlwind visit, which Karl described as “a blessing”, he featured as the My Pitch interview later in September detailing his remarkable story and how The Big Issue helped him out of homelessness – and it touched the hearts of readers.
Karl explained how he had been savagely attacked in 2019, leaving him with serious injuries and a 17-month recovery spell in hospital. That has affected his mobility and means he struggles to walk. He is also forced to sit in a chair to sell the magazine in Bournemouth. He told The Big Issue he was currently sorting out his PIP disability benefits to afford a mobility scooter.
Two readers, who wish to remain anonymous, were so moved by Karl’s story that they generously paid £2,000 to buy him a mobility scooter.
“I just want to say thank you very much,” said Karl.
“I sold them the magazine at 10.30 and then by 11.15 they came and took me to the shop to get it.
“It’s made a massive difference. They have saved me, really. I can take my son out – I can’t walk very far and he’s embarrassed to walk with me – so this
