Big Issue vendors in the UK are experiencing significant drops in sales and earnings due to recent heatwaves, according to the magazine's managing director. Catherine Parsons stated that sales have decreased by an average of 20% year-on-year during weeks when heatwaves are declared.
During a record-breaking heatwave in June, the West Midlands and Wales saw sales decline by 34% and 33% respectively. George Anderson, who sells the Big Issue near the BBC's Broadcasting House in London, described the difficulty of selling in the heat, noting that people are less inclined to stop and chat when uncomfortable and seeking air conditioning. "People are uncomfortable, they don't want to hang around in the heat and chat," he told the BBC.
Big Issue is a publication sold by individuals experiencing homelessness or financial instability. Parsons emphasized that for these vendors, extreme heat is more than an inconvenience; it directly reduces their income, forcing difficult decisions about essentials like rent and food.
In the week when the UK's June temperature record was broken with highs of 37.7C (99.9F), Big Issue sales fell by an average of 22% compared to the same week the previous year. This period marked the UK's fifth heatwave of the year, with forecasters indicating the summer could be the hottest on record.
To support vendors, Big Issue teams have been distributing sunscreen, caps, and water bottles. However, Parsons acknowledged that in the most extreme temperatures, it becomes unsafe for vendors to continue selling, and any reduction in their working hours has an immediate financial impact.