Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
News

Derek's Story

A very big well done to Derek Doggett who has won the September Vendor Achievement Award in Oxford for his brilliant hard work. The Oxford Vendor of the Month Award has been running for two months, after it was inaugurated in August. Derek is our second winner. The award serves to recognise and reward the progress our vendors have made towards social and financial inclusion over the previous month. Winners are selected according to : general good conduct, attitude and commitment; efforts to improve sales; positive public feedback; and progress towards personal goals. Each month the staff team in Oxford consider candidates against these criteria when deciding on a winner.

Derek recently moved to Oxford and was new to the city, however despite this challenge, it didn’t stop him from building up a pitch and establishing a good relationship with the locals. He was determined to sell as many magazines as he could and managed to achieve his sales targets within a couple of months. He consistently achieved his target of selling an incredible 75 copies a week and established his pitch in a remarkably short space of time.

He is now working hard to achieve his aspiration of travelling overseas by bike in the new year, and is currently doing a build a bike course at Crisis Skylight in Oxford. Derek would love to go to Greece in particular, so this course along with a £20.00 voucher prize from Halfords will bring him closer to fulfilling his ambition.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Do you know how Big Issue 'really' works?

Watch this simple explanation.

Recommended for you

View all
An academic put trackers on homeless people to see what they could learn. Here's what they did next
University of Roehampton lead researcher Dr Melissa Jogie
Homelessness

An academic put trackers on homeless people to see what they could learn. Here's what they did next

Disability campaigners criticise report proposing PIP cuts: 'Very concerning'
DWP, benefits
Personal Independence Payment

Disability campaigners criticise report proposing PIP cuts: 'Very concerning'

There is a taboo around periods and homelessness. It's leaving women sleeping rough on the streets
A homeless women pictured going behind the bins to get some privacy while on her period
Homelessness

There is a taboo around periods and homelessness. It's leaving women sleeping rough on the streets

There's a new grant to help musicians build sustainable careers. But there's a catch
A vinyl record next to a number of record sleeves on a shelf
Music

There's a new grant to help musicians build sustainable careers. But there's a catch