Big Issue founder Lord Bird has issued a plea for the British public to support Big Issue sellers this Christmas by buying a copy of the magazine, purchasing a subscription or making a contribution to the organisation which helps some of the most marginalised people in the UK.
The cost of living crisis is hitting everyone across the country but research has found those on lower incomes have been worse affected. Inflation is expected to hit 18 per cent for the poorest, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and 11 per cent for the richest.
“Winter is always a hard time for the most vulnerable in our society but this year it is worse than ever,” Lord Bird said. “The drop in footfall on high streets, the rise in energy bills and food costs, and the ongoing fallout from the cost of living crisis have made it harder for everyone, but especially for our vendors.”
“Which is why we are urging people to give our vendors a fighting chance this Christmas and ensure they buy as many copies of our weekly magazine that they can over the Christmas period or buy a subscription. Every copy bought from a vendor, is £2 earned. Literally every copy bought counts.”
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Big Issue vendors, who are among the most marginalised people in the UK, buy the Christmas magazines for £2 and sell them for £4, keeping the difference.