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Issue 1481 - Vendors Takeover

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30 vendors for 30 years
When the first edition of The Big Issue went on sale in September 1991, the idea was simple: give people a hand up instead of a handout. Allow people the opportunity to work their way out of poverty, homelessness and hopelessness. It has remained central to everything we do.

In the first editorial in that first edition, John Bird wrote about another ambition – that one day the magazine would be written and produced by the people who sell it. As we celebrate our 30th birthday, what more fitting way to mark the occasion than to offer 30 of our vendors the platform to share their passions and pastimes, show their incredible artwork and tell us what they think readers should know.

Here are a few of the highlights!
- First of all, our cover is designed by London vendor Rich Rowe, created from recycled magazines. The words in the middle become clearer the further away you are, which might be an interesting experience for passing customers!
- Fresh from quizzing the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lee Welham in Cambridge tops that by talking to John Bird about the past and future of The Big Issue
After 15 years of selling in Truro, Nick Cuthbert is at the heart of his community. And he wanted to pay tribute to 15 other members of the community who look out for him
- Selling the magazine isn’t just about making money, it can improve your wellbeing, says Simone Gill in Plymouth
- Clive – also in Plymouth – talks about what acting means to him with former Doctor Who and Big Issue Ambassador Christopher Eccleston
- You’ll never think of Swindon the same way after reading Ian Tanner’s celebration of the town
- Richard Cotterill has a ramble with comedian and keen hiker Ed Byrne
- Robin Price in Weston-super-Mare choo-choo-chooses to write about Britain’s railways
- We have some wild art from Slavi Slavov in Carmarthen
- Jules Daniels in Leicester calls on us all to take action to save the environment
- Passionate antiques collector Simon Gravell from Norwich gets trading tips from his hero Drew Pritchard, presenter of Salvage Hunters
- We have Jack Richardson’s Top 5 dystopian novels and Dave Campion takes the controller to tell us what a Big Issue videogame might be like
- Plus in a special Letter To My Younger Self feature, vendors from across the country give advice to their 16-year-old selves

This is an edition not to be missed!

The Big Issue

The Big Issue's own-brand products support the creation of a range of work-based opportunities for disadvantaged people.
Big Issue has spent over 30 years at the helm of self-help revolution. It all began with the launch of The Big Issue magazine in 1991, which was created to offer homeless and disadvantaged people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income by selling a magazine on the streets. Since then over 200 million copies magazine have been sold by over 100,000 people. Vendors buy the magazine upfront for £1.75 and sell it on to the public for £4.00, and in doing so each runs their own micro-enterprise. In 2005 Big Issue Invest was launched, with the aim of extending The Big Issue's mission by financing the growth of social enterprises and charities across the UK. To date the organisation has directly invested in over 350 such organisations, and manages or advises on more than £170 million of social funds.
Read all about The Big Issue

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Supporting the Makers (icon)

SUPPORTING THE MAKERS

Our suppliers create opportunities for disadvantaged people

Protecting the planet (icon)

PROTECTING THE PLANET

Our products are sourced with sustainability in mind

A hand up, not hand out (icon)

A HAND UP, NOT HAND OUT

We’re striving to dismantle poverty through social trading