Big Issue vendors given free sunscreen as temperatures soar

With another heatwave hitting the UK this week, there are few jobs more exposed to the relentless sun than selling the Big Issue.

Our vendors spend hours at a time outdoors selling the magazine, often with little opportunity to find shade or escape the sun during their working day.

To protect them from heatstroke and sunburn, Big Issue is arming them with Summer Support Kits – which include a bottle of DIC (Don’t Ignore Cancer) sunscreen, donated by the British sun protection brand.

Rodney Lyall, who sells the Big Issue in the sunny seaside haven of Bournemouth, says the sunscreen has been a “lifeline”.

“When it’s really hot like this – red hot – I can’t really sell because I’m susceptible to the sun because of my medication,” he tells us.

“But the cream, that’s a lifeline, especially given the risk of getting cancer of the skin.”

An All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Beauty and Wellbeing recently warned that outdoor workers face a 60% higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer compared to indoor workers. One in three non-melanoma skin cancer deaths worldwide is associated with working outdoors in the sun.

With the Met Office predicting an increased chance of UK heatwaves this summer, Big Issue is appealing for supporters to buy a vendor a Summer Support Kit, comprised of a free bottle of DIC sunscreen, a Big Issue branded cap and an insulated reusable water bottle which keeps water cool on hot days.

Summer Support Kits are already being distributed to Big Issue’s network of more than a thousand vendors across England, Scotland and Wales.

Ian Duff, a vendor in Bath, told the Big Issue: “This heatwave, it’s really hard. I’m only working a couple of hours a day. It’s not as easy as everyone thinks.

“The suntan lotion is the best thing we can have because we can get very, very seriously burnt out here. The cap does help for visibility, but it’s also good because I’m starting to get burnt on my head as well. It’s good protection.”

With sun protection often seen as unaffordable, Big Issue vendors could be tempted to skip the sunscreen and put themselves at risk.

Catherine Parsons, managing director of Big Issue, added: “With record temperatures recorded in June and another heatwave now underway, we’re encouraging our vendors to stay safe in the sun, stay hydrated and take regular breaks.

“Providing sunscreen as part of our Summer Support Kits means we can keep vendors safer while they earn their living. We’re grateful for DIC’s support.”

Russ Oliver, founder of DIC, said: “We are so proud to be supporting Big Issue by donating bottles of DIC sunscreen for the vendor’s Summer Support Kits.

“As the findings in the APPG report show, people working outside are at much higher risk of skin cancers and these vendors are often outside for very long periods, putting them at risk all year round, but especially during hot weather.

“We hope that by donating sunscreen we can help make more people aware that sun protection should be as much a part of your morning routine as brushing your teeth.”

DIC is a 200ml Daily Sun Protection Spray (SPF 30, 5-Star UVA rated), designed for fast, easy application. The lightweight, non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and is water resistant, created to fit easily into gym bags, work vans or daily routines.

Summer Support Kits are available to buy now. Big Issue is aiming to hand out more than a thousand kits to its vendor community across England, Scotland and Wales.

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