A quarter of Big Issue vendors sold the magazine for the first time in 2022, highlighting “how many are in financial need” amid the cost-of-living crisis, the group’s annual report reveals.

This found there were 3,637 people selling the magazine last year, of which 899 (24.7%) was for the first time.

There has been a 10% growth in the number of Big Issue venders as people look for extra income during the year.

Those selling the magazine last year earned a collected £3.76m, the annual report for the group’s operations also found.

“Just months into 2022, the UK was witnessing war in Europe, spiralling living costs, and continuing increases in poverty and hardship,” said the group.

“Food prices are now higher than they have been for 45 years, 7.2 million people are going without basic necessities and 4.7 million are behind on their bills.”

There has been a seven-fold increase in demand for food and fuel from sellers during 2022, adds the group, which says its reach has grown by 58% during the cost-of-living crisis, from 4.7m people to 7.4m.

There has been a 50% growth in readers of the magazine online. Vendors have also been able to offer the public subscriptions to the magazine online or delivered to their door. In addition, subscribers can direct half the subscription to a chosen seller.

“This has been a vital way of allowing people who can’t reach a vendor on a weekly basis continue their support," said the group.

Jim, a Big Issue seller in Norwich said “The subscriptions have been a game changer. If they hadn’t come in, I don’t know what would have happened. I get quite a few online subscriptions and I’ve found it helpful to have them.”

During 2022 a total of 5,813 people received a subscription to the Big Issue, generating £23,256 in income for vendors. Since launching subscriptions have generated £90,000 in income.

“As increasing numbers of people are turning to us for support and to find out how they can help those most in need, we are continuing to innovate and develop new services, to bring about new economic opportunities for those people who are most marginalised in our society,” said Big Issue Group chief executive Paul Cheal.

“We want to be there for as many people as possible in these uncertain times and we are proud that, in 2022 we have managed to more than double our reach.”

Diversity reporting

The report also revealed that diversity among staff is “low”, at 13% among senior management and 11% across all staff. Meanwhile, 79% of staff and 87% of senior managers identify as “not disabled”.

Elsewhere its staffing figures show that a third of its staff and more than a quarter (27%) of its senior management team have “lived experience of a social challenge”.

The group’s mean gender pay gap is 8% in favour of men, even though the staff ratio is almost even at 50% male, 48% female and 3% non-binary. This is the first time the group has shared gender pay gap figures.

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