Personal ID and Bank Accounts

We understand how important possessing identification and a bank account is as a way of unlocking opportunities. That’s why it’s one of the most important services we offer to vendors.

Ian – Big Issue Vendor

Before becoming a vendor, Ian found himself living on the streets after he lost his job when the company he worked for went into administration. When he lost his home, he also lost essential items such as his ID.

“It’s very hard to become a whole person without having a bank account. It sounds trivial, but it’s not. If you don’t have a bank account, how can you pay bills? How can you get a job? To me, having a bank account is one of the most important things, having ID so you can show this is who I am.

The Big Issue helped me to obtain a passport and put me in the right direction to open a bank account.”

Where possible, we support vendors to open a standard bank account, but for many people, this simply isn’t achievable, and the main reason is usually that they don’t have a fixed address. On those occasions, our team support vendors onto a different pathway and help them to open a bank account via a specialist programme of work with HSBC.
Our team support the vendor by booking an appointment at a participating branch and accompanying them to facilitate opening an account using their Big Issue badge as ID and our details for correspondence.
“Many of our vendors have had financial issues going back to when they were teenagers and didn’t
think they could open a bank account, so they’re really blown away when they find out this is available to them. Having a bank account can make a huge difference to their lives, allowing them to claim benefits, access housing and regain control of their money.

Unique, person-centred coaching

For many of our vendors, training in a formal environment can cause a lot of anxiety. That’s why our unique training is conducted by somebody the vendor has built a trusting relationship with gently demonstrating and then allowing them to try for themselves.

This approach helps build their confidence which is often one of the biggest barriers for marginalised people to progress, both socially and economically.

We’ve had vendors tell us they “felt invisible” on their pitches or that they were considering giving up, but after our sales coaching, they’ve felt more professional
and have increased their interaction with customers.

So, when we see our vendors calling out “Big Issue”, making eye contact with passers-by and building genuine connections, we’re immensely proud of them because we know how hard they’ve worked to get to that position.

Financial and digital inclusion

A smartphone isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline, and for a Big Issue vendor, a smartphone that allows them to take cashless payments can increase their income by £520 a year.

Big Issue Vendor Matthew has been selling the magazine for over ten years and has recently been supported to go cashless, which has helped increase his income and his confidence.

“The Big Issue told me they could give me a phone that could take cashless payments and I was like wow, I’d been missing out on sales all this time.

So I went up to the office and they showed me the gizmo and yeah, I’ve never looked back. It makes you feel more of a business attitude because you’re processing money through your banking system. It gives you credibility that you’re doing something. It shows people this guy’s out here trying his best to make something of himself. It makes me feel proud
to wear the tabard.”

Enable more people to work their way out of poverty

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