As Bournemouth grapples with rising homelessness and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, vendors of The Big Issue are using the magazine’s entrepreneurial model to regain financial independence. By selling the publication on the streets, they earn an income whilst working towards stability an approach that continues to make a difference, despite economic challenges.
The magazine operates on a self-employment model, where vendors buy copies for £2 and sell them for £4, making £2 profit per issue. During the Christmas period, the cover price rises to £5, with vendors purchasing copies for between £2.25 and £2.50. Vendors who are unable to afford magazines when starting out can receive a small number of free copies through an induction scheme.
“We start with three usually and then see how they get on,” said Yasmine James, a sales worker for The Big Issue in Bournemouth. Once vendors establish themselves, they are offered further support, including assistance with cashless payments, savings options, and welfare support.
“If they’re struggling to pay their gas and electric, we give them vouchers,” James said. “Other than that, it’s like toiletries, and then when it comes to anything else they need—just for themselves or their house—we can put in a ‘hand up’ application for them.”
Many vendors use their earnings to supplement government benefits, including Universal Credit and housing support. Others take on additional small jobs, such as food delivery, to sustain a basic income. “Generally speaking, it’s people on benefits or people with smaller other jobs that maybe wouldn’t be able to get a full-time job with a significant income,” James said. “If it’s not their first language, for example, or if they haven’t got the experience.”
Despite economic pressures, vendors who establish themselves can see a significant improvement in their quality of life. Regular customers often offer additional financial support by paying more than the magazine’s cover price.
For long-time vendors such as Carl Burns, 58, selling The Big Issue has provided stability and independence. After spending 17 months in hospital following a violent attack in 2019, he sells magazines from his mobility vehicle in Bournemouth town centre, six days a week, from 10am to 4pm. Typically, Carl sells between two and six copies every day, but this is often impacted by the weather conditions.
“People treat me with respect and honour now,” he said. “I’ve got what I need—my family, a home, and everything. My life is built back, and now I give back by helping others.”
To help vendors manage their finances, The Big Issue provides a savings system, allowing them to deposit up to £100 for future magazine purchases. This is alongside their average earnings of £20 a day.
“As you can imagine, if you’re a vulnerable rough sleeper, it’s your first time trying to do money management, it’s a lot to deal with,” James said. “We also have vendor savings, so we can put money into our safe and look after it for them.”
