FROM 01 MARCH 2021 BIGISSUE.COM | 05
“At this most di�fi cult of times for The Big Issue our readers, old and new,
have come forward. We have been able to distribute these funds – as cash
or vouchers or other support needed – thanks to those who subscribed,
donated and helped. There is still work to do. And we know our supporters
will be with us every step.”
Vendors have been supported emotionally too, with our frontline team
staying in touch in lockdown to check on their wellbeing.
“These essential funds have meant that we have been able to support
vendors while they have been unable to sell the magazine on the streets,”
Big Issue founder Lord John Bird said.
“The announcement of Britain’s roadmap out of lockdown has o�fered
some hope for our vendors, but we still have a way to go until the high streets
are as busy as they once were. By subscribing you can enable us to be there
for our vendors, both now and in the future.”
Your continued help will allow The Big Issue to keep supporting sellers
through the struggle and uncertainty of the months ahead. Whether it’s by
subscribing to the magazine to get a copy through your door every week or
taking out a subscription specifi cally from your local vendor by fi nding them
on our online interactive map, it all makes a di�ference.
Alternatively, you can pick up individual issues in The Big Issue Shop, or
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Lord Bird added: “We want to thank everyone who has supported us and
our vendors along the journey we have been through and helped us to reach
this magnifi cent milestone.”
A growing number of cities, towns and councils have
begun vaccinating people experiencing homelessness.
Marcus Rashford and football fans have proven unlikely
leaders in the fi ght against food poverty during the
pandemic – now musicians Enter Shikari are calling for
a change of tune too.
The British band – known for their genre-defying and
politically conscious tracks – have announced a T-shirt
collaboration with their local team St Albans City with all
profi ts split between the St Albans and District Foodbank in
Hertfordshire and Fans Supporting Foodbanks (FSF)
in Liverpool.
FSF began the movement of football fans tackling food
poverty while co-founder and Liverpool West Derby MP
Ian Byrne has also spearheaded the plan for Liverpool to
become a Right to Food city that has seen Manchester
follow suit.
The move comes at a time when foodbank use is rising- national foodbank charity The Trussell Trust reported a 47
per cent increase in the number of emergency food parcels
given out during the pandemic last year. That has inspired
Enter Shikari to act, according to bassist Chris Batten.
He said: “Enter Shikari has also always had a strong
connection with Liverpool, and it’s one of the
many cities across the country we’ve
been made to feel at home in.
“In a world where there is
already far too much division,
FSF is an amazing example of
‘rivals’ coming together in unity to
benefi t their people.
“With foodbank use rising, we
felt we wanted to do something to
help raise a bit of m oney and also
shine a little more light on the
hard work they do, and the help
they desperately need.”
The T-shirt is av ailable for
pre-order from Enter Shikari’s
o�fi cial website entershikari.
com with a release date of
March 19.
COVID IN NUMBERS
The Big Issue has been calling
for people experiencing
homelessness to be
vaccinated as a priority
since the rollout began.Our sister street paper
Scarp de’ tenis is doing the
same. The Italian magazine’s
latest edition focuses on the
examples set by the Vatican
and Denmark in moving
people without a stable
home up the pecking order
to receive the jab.Rock stars
join foodbank
fi ght