We have some wonderful updates on vendors we have previously featured in our newsletters that we just had to share. We hope you enjoy hearing these updates as much as we do!
Big Issue vendors in England and Wales will be back on April 12.
Share
We have some wonderful updates on vendors we have previously featured in our newsletters that we just had to share. We hope you enjoy hearing these updates as much as we do!
EMMA
We previously shared that Big Issue vendor Emma was excited and hopeful to be moving on from the Big Issue to start a new job.
Emma has been in full-time work for a year now and is happy with both her job and team.
She began volunteering for Riverside Street Buddies where she mentored rough sleepers. Emma then moved into their trainee programme as a stepping stone to employment.
Emma’s manager has encouraged her to think about applying for a frontline role. She is being mindful of her mental health, so she doesn’t want to take on more responsibility quite yet. Instead, Emma is continuing with training and building up her confidence.
We’re proud of Emma for her accomplishments as well as for remaining self-aware and taking care of herself. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
BILL
Bill’s latest fundraiser raised £500 to support Big Issue vendors
Former Bournemouth vendor Bill has come a long way since selling The Big Issue and has taken it upon himself to give something back.
Bill’s latest fundraiser for The Big Issue Foundation was a live music event at The Goat & Tricycle in Bournemouth. Around 300 people attended plus an extra 100 outside listening to the music. Overall, the event raised more than £500, so it was a huge success!
Bill says his intentions are to give something back to the organisation that helped him get back on his feet. We love hearing about the fundraisers he puts on to support vendors who are in the same position he was only a few years ago.
A DOG’S LIFE!
Our Winter Newsletter featured news about a vendor in Nottingham whose mental health declined due to the death of his dog during lockdown. Since then, we have been working hard to find the vendor a new dog. We are happy to update that the vendor now has Lian!
After the RSPCA in Leicester reached out about a suitable dog, the vendor travelled to meet Lian. The lucky dog came out of her shell and was wagging her tail by the end of the visit, so we moved forward in the adoption process.
We took pictures of the vendor’s house for the inspection, got written consent from the housing association, worked with Vets in the Community to help pay for the dog, and arranged to have Lian delivered to Nottingham.
After settling in, the pair visited the office, and the improvement in the vendor’s mental health was evident.
With our online vendor map, you can support a local vendor by supplementing their income with a subscription to Big Issue. For every annual subscription sold via a vendor, a vendor receives £50.
