Big Issue vendors scared to return to pitches after North East riots

The fear caused by those that reaped havoc during the North East riots continues to impact residents' lives

Big Issue vendors have been scared to return to their pitches in the region following riots in their communities.

Disorder spread across several North East towns and cities in August in response to the stabbings in Southport on July 29. Sunderland, Middlesborough, and Hartlepool were among the areas to witness some of the worst disorder, with several buildings and vehicles set alight, and police and residents targeted in their own communities.

Several people have now been sentenced following the disorder, including Kieran Usher, 32, of Sunderland, who was jailed four years and four months last week after becoming the first person in the UK to admit a "riot" charge.

But for some people living in the communities that were targeted, the fear caused by those that reaped havoc in the area continues to impact residents' lives. And it has resulted in some Big Issue vendors being too afraid to return to their pitch to sell the magazine, which provides them with a source of income.

Catherine Parsons, Managing Director of Big Issue Changing Lives CIC, which supports people affected by poverty, including the vendors, said: "Our vendors in Middlesbrough were really particularly badly affected. They were targeted and there were riots in their street and some of those vendors still don't feel particularly safe coming back out to sell the magazine."

It's one of the reasons why the Big Issue chose the North East as the location to kick off their Big Community Roadshow. The Big Issue Group has been in Newcastle since Tuesday to engage with the public and local businesses.

Catherine added: "We knew that we wanted to come up to the North East because it's quite a mixed community and we wanted to meet people who can benefit from our support and also engage with people who are able to support our vendors by buying a magazine."

Each magazine costs £4, of which vendors are able to keep 50%, while the other 50% goes towards expenses involved with creating and distributing the magazine.

During the Big Community Roadshow, representatives across the Big Issue Group will be bringing people together to find community-level solutions and campaign for government action on poverty. The Big Community Roadshow will culminate in the Big Issue Big Debate – a Question Time-style live event that is open to the people of Newcastle to come armed with questions and ideas for a panel of experts and community leaders to consider.

Chaired by Big Issue editor Paul McNamee, the panel will include local figures from the worlds of business, culture, politics and grassroots leadership, including local social entrepreneur Charlotte Windebank and former Big Issue vendor and well-known local personality Earl Charlton, with Big Issue founder Lord John Bird also set to join.

This will take place on October 3 at 7pm at The Common Room in Newcastle. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite.

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