Big Issue vendors given free sunscreen amid warning that outdoor workers are at 60% higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer

Wednesday 08 July – Big Issue vendors have been given free bottles of DIC (Don’t Ignore Cancer) sunscreen to protect them while selling in the sun.

The sunscreen has been donated by DIC for inclusion in Big Issue’s new Summer Support Kits, which are already being distributed to vendors nationwide as the UK experiences its second extreme heatwave in recent weeks.

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.”

Rodney Lyall, who sells the Big Issue in Bournemouth, called the kits a “lifeline”. He told the Big Issue: “When it’s hot like this – red hot – I can’t really sell because I’m susceptible to the sun because of my medication. But the [sun]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 has recently warned that outdoor workers face a 60% higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer compared to indoor workers, and one in three non-melanoma skin cancer deaths worldwide is associated with working outdoors in the sun^[1].

Big Issue vendors spend long hours outdoors each day selling the magazine, often with limited access to shade or shelter. With sun protection often seen as unaffordable, they are even more vulnerable to the dangers of sun exposure.

With the Met Office predicting an increased chance of UK heatwaves throughout the summer^[2], the public can help Big Issue vendors stay safe while they work by paying for a vendor to get a Summer Support Kit – which also include Big Issue branded caps and insulated reusable water bottles which keep water cool on hot days.

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.”

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.”

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 from the Big Issue website. Big Issue is aiming to hand out more than a thousand kits to its vendor community across England, Scotland and Wales.

[1] A Preventable Crisis: The Case For A National UV Safety Strategy, The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Beauty, Hair and Wellbeing, published April 2026

[2] Met Office: 3 Month Outlook, June 2026, metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2026/what-does-a-3-month-outlook-really-tell-us