Just a number

Since the pandemic, there has been a drastic increase in the number of over-60s out of work. While losing your job can be difficult at any age, evidence shows that older people who lose their jobs are at greater risk of becoming long-term unemployed. The Centre for Ageing Better states that over-60s are twice as likely as other age groups to be unemployed for at least two years, meaning that older workers are forced into an early retirement that they may not want or cannot afford.

While losing your job can be difficult at any age, evidence shows that older people who lose their jobs are at greater risk of becoming long-term unemployed.

According to Age UK, 2.1 million older people are living in poverty today. This means that they must often make difficult choices about how to spend their limited money, such as deciding between switching the heating off or buying less food.

Approximately a fifth of our vendors are over 50 years old. Gordon sells Big Issue North outside of Sainsbury’s in Heaton Park. He is one of our oldest vendors, aged 72, and has experience of redundancy: “I was struggling in Manchester for a while. I lost my last job at an old folks’ home – I was pushing 60 then. I had a friend who sold the magazine and he said to me come and sell it. He kept on at me and I thought I would give it a go. I’m not homeless but I need the money and it keeps me busy. And at my age, it would be hard to get another job.”

Finances were not the only factor to be exacerbated by Covid-19. Lockdowns forcibly kept families, friends, and communities apart, with many people experiencing loneliness daily. For older people – who are at particular risk of loneliness – feelings of isolation were compounded by strict lockdown guidelines.

Before the pandemic, around one in 12 people aged 50 and over in England were often lonely, equivalent to around 1.4 million people. This number is projected to increase to around 2 million people by 2026.

20% of our vendors are over 50 years old. Our oldest vendor is in his eighties.

Joe, a vendor based at Marks and Spencer in Prestwich, is nearly 60. “I’m okay now but during the lockdown I wasn’t very well,” he said. “I was very depressed, very down… It’s when I’m not kept busy – like when I couldn’t sell the magazine. Then I think about things. Like about how all my family have died and there’s only me and a couple of sisters left.

“I’m always happiest when selling the magazine. Talking to my customers makes me happy. I have loads of regulars who worry about me when I’m not there.”

For many vendors, the social interaction that selling the magazine provides is appealing. In our latest vendor audit, vendors reported that selling the magazine improves their confidence and/or motivation (57 per cent), provides them with a structure to their day (29 per cent) and gives them something to do (41 per cent). For older vendors, in particular, socialisation can offer improved mental health and wellbeing.

“I think about retiring sometimes but I actually enjoy what I am doing because every day I get some satisfaction from being on my pitch one way or the other.” – Pierro, Big Issue North Vendor.

Gordon credits working with helping him to keep mentally sharp: “I do know a lot of people who are younger than me but who look older. It makes me realise how lucky I am that my health is fine. One of the reasons I still sell the magazine is that it keeps my mind occupied. If I sat down and watched that daytime television every day, I’d go round the bend”.

West Kirby vendor Pierro, aged 68, agrees: “I think about retiring sometimes but I actually enjoy what I am doing because every day I get some satisfaction from being on my pitch one way or the other. So, I don’t know. I don’t think I could retire and just be at home all day watching Cash in the Attic. I am not ready for that yet.”

If you’re 17 or older, you can work with us. We encourage anyone who needs income and additional support to get in touch. While a third of our vendors are homeless, the majority are not – people sell The Big Issue for a vast variety of reasons, and if you want to work with us, we want to work with you.

Similarly, by supporting the Big Issue North – through buying the magazine, talking to your local vendor, or donating to The Big Issue North Trust – you can help older people like Gordon, Pierro and Joe to earn an income, stay active and build up their self-esteem, confidence, and motivation.

If you would like to help us in our mission to support hundreds more people in need of work, please text BINORTH to 70970 to give £5, or visit www.justgiving.com/bigissuenorth.