Four in 10 Brits go a whole week without a meaningful talk with a stranger, Big Issue study reveals

A simple conversation can mean a lot. That’s why we encourage readers to talk to their local Big Issue vendor, even just to say hello. You never know, it might be the first conversation they’ve had all day.

As we head into Christmas, Big Issue teamed up with global insights agency Kokoro to find out whether speaking to strangers is a lost art.

Our startling study found four in 10 Brits go a whole week without a meaningful conversation with a stranger.

Read more:

• How the Big Issue supports vendors through the winter
• Change a Big Issue vendor’s life this Christmas and beyond
• Deck your walls with limited edition prints by leading artists to support Big Issue at Christmas

The national survey, which quizzed 3,000 adults, found social disconnection on the rise as nearly two-thirds (63%) said people are having less meaningful interactions with people they don’t know.

The research revealed that people who intend to vote Reform UK at the next general election are most likely to report a lack of chat with strangers in an average week. A total of 42% of Reform UK voters said they go without meaningful interactions, compared to 40% of intended Tory voters and 30% of Labour voters.

The research forms part of Big Issue’s 2025 Christmas campaign launch, alongside a new film called Issues We Face, which follows three vendors sharing the real and relatable life circumstances that led them to sell the magazine, as crowds of oblivious passers-by go about their days around them.

Shot in real time in a busy public location, the film is a visual reminder of how difficult a Big Issue vendor’s job is and why it’s important to stop and talk to Big Issue vendors as well as support them, if you can.

A nationwide observation of Big Issue vendors found that more than half (54%) of approaches to passers-by go completely ignored.

Lord John Bird, founder of Big Issue, said: “There are a thousand reasons why someone may find themselves out in the cold selling you a Big Issue this Christmas. Some of their experiences may not be as far from your own as you may think.

“Our vendors are working hard to earn a living, so spare them your time to stop, talk and support by buying a magazine if you can. Remember to always take your magazine – this is crucial income for Big Issue, which we use to support vendors in their trade and in other areas of their lives, like their housing, wellbeing and skills training.

“Alternatively, if you can’t reach your local vendor, buy a Vendor Support Kit and equip them for selling through the cold, dark winter.”

As temperatures drop and thousands of people turn to Big Issue this winter as a vital source of income, we are asking the nation to support Big Issue vendors by purchasing a magazine every week or buying a Vendor Support Kit online.

Big Issue vendor Tamara Putzu, who sells the magazine on Holloway Road in North London, and appears in the film, said: “I lost my job during Covid. That’s when my life started to fall apart. First my job, then my flat and even my relationship of 22 years. Big Issue helps me make a living and gives my life purpose.

“When people do stop that’s the best part of the job, talking and connecting – creating a community. It’s through those encounters I make a living.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

Change a vendor’s life this Christmas.

Buy from your local Big Issue vendor every week – or support online with a vendor support kit or a subscription – and help people work their way out of poverty with dignity.