General Chat

I bought my first copy for ages yesterday, the poor lad looked so cold and he was shivering. it was a bumper issue costing £2. he will keep £1 of that. Within the magazine there is a piece by 'the Big Issue Man' Graham Walker. I thought that something he said made a lot of sense.

" Christmas, when, for one week only, the media declare a ceasefire on their war with the homeless. When they electronically Tippex out their predictable rhetoric -'druggies', 'down and outs'- and replace it with 'poor', 'unfortunate' and 'underclass'.

Christmas when, for one week only, The Big Issue sales barometer, with one gentle tap, registers b****y high."

It made me think that, yes, I do tend to buy a copy at Christmas and on very cold days when really I should be buying it whenever I see it Normally the cost is only £1.50 (the sellers buy them for 75p and keep the profit.) The Big Issue organisation helps with support to the sellers to keep them off drink and drugs. I think my NY resolution will be to buy more copies. £1.50, the cost of a Woman's magazine, or a cup of coffee in town, not a lot to me but so much more to a homeless person trying to regain self respect.

ann
Glos

I don't always buy one Ann, but whenever I pass a seller and he asks me Big Issue? I always say sorry no, or acknowledge him, not just ignore him as some other people do. I think it must be awful for them to be treated as tho they are invisible.
Lizx

Yes, i meant to say, I do always smile at them and say no thank you when I don't buy. Usually the reason I don't buy is because I don't want to have to carry it. actually sometimes there are interesting pieces in the magazine.

Ann
Glos

Yes we have a very nice man that sells big issue in our village, everyone stops and chats to him.

I know what it is to be homeless even if it was for a very short time.

skwirrel

I wish we had a Big Issue where I am in Canada ... I think there have been attempts. Maybe in Vancouver.

I got a kick out of buying an issue one day in London, when my mum and I visited in 1994, and then an issue of the local equivalent the next day in Calais, when we went over for lunch on a lark for one day of our two-week trip to England. That's my idea of what to do on holiday; learn stuff about where you are.

I did notice that the English tourists in Calais who accompanied us on the ferry were singularly dismissive of the local person selling the paper there. But then *all* tourists are rude (not just the French in England! ... and dang, they were rude), and I guess they probably didn't read French anyhow ...

The sellers even say 'thankyou' if you don't buy one. I think the thanks is 'cos I acknowledge their presence.

LW

I buy one every fortnight which is normally when i go to the bigger shopping town as they dont have any vendors in the town near me. There are two regular vendors in the town they seem to take it in turns but they are always very polite and have a little chat. I think its a worthwhile cause as it makes us all more aware of the homeless situation and gives the people involved some pride and self worth. And afterall what is £1.50 to most of us really not alot is it but it makes a difference.

Jax xx

never buy the big issue but always give the sellers a pound and if they are near a bakers buy them a pie and a coffee they need it this weather
Love Jackie

Like Jacqueline I dont buy the Big Issue,but I give money.Its a case of "There but for the grace of God,go I"


Maddy

Yes Maddy you are quite right... there but for the grace of god!!

We used to have one every week, but th elad is not there these days.... perhaps his luck has changed??
I hope so.
Deanna X

We would have bought the lad a coffee but he already had one.

Ann
Glos

Yes I just bought one outside central library in Manchester, but has anyone noticed how many asians are now selling them? Dont mean this in racist way.
Davex

Yes buy the Big Issue but usually give above the cover price (when I worked in the city I used to buy it at lunchtime read it over lunch then give it the vender back to sell again on the way back to work). Yes Dave there are a lot of Eastern Europeans selling them in the midlands - one woman only speaks 3 words of English 'Big Issue Pleeeze' Again I dont mean that in a racist way

pmsl Colin thats like the one near me on says the three words.
Dave

Well the ones in Gloucester don't have designer gear. They are supposed to follow a code of conduct, yes some are alcoholics, some drug addicts, most trying to get clean. maybe the one you saw was not a proper registered seller. You should have taken his number and queried it with the organisation. You shouldn't tar them all with the same brush.

ann

Glos

I have seen homeless people wearing designer clothes but who knows these items could of been donated to a charity and passed on. Id rather keep buying the mag and give these people the benifit of doubt than judge without getting the full story.

The Big Issue is sold by homeless and vulnerably housed people. In order to sell the magazine a potential vendor will need to prove they are homeless, by showing receipts from any hostels that they have been staying in or a letter of referral. There have been cases were bone fide vendors have had their magazines stolen from them under threat of being assulted if they didn't hand them over. If you see someone selling them and feel they shouldnt be then contact the Big Issue Foundation.

Thanks, Colin. Facts beat anecdotes any day.

I buy the Big issue when ever I visit a town....

I have been sold them by young women, thin and frail ....young men ,who are obviously trying to get their life back on track...

i have bought it in fair weather and on the coldest, wettest most vile day imaginable.

Not once has the vendor neglected to thank me and been anything other than friendly ....and if for some reason i have been unable to buy it they have always said 'thankyou' anyway.

The BI founder was on the radio this morning...explaining how the sales help the homeless in many different ways...
I believe that 1.2 million people
purchase it.

Rosex

thanks for that Rose.

Ann
Glos