Big Issue seller numbers up due to cost-of-living pressures, says founder

Almost 900 people signed up to sell the magazine last year for the first time.

The number of Big Issue sellers rose by 10% between 2021 and 2022 (Paul Harding/PA) (PA Archive)

The number of Big Issue sellers has risen 10% in the past year, with the social enterprise group putting the increase down to cost-of-living pressures.

Founder Lord Bird said more people have had to turn to selling the magazine – which supports those who do to earn an income – due to the “dire set of circumstances they are facing”.

There were 3,642 vendors in 2022 compared to 3,296 the year before, figures from the Big Issue Group show.