Big Issue North Knitting Fundraiser

by NatalieH

"Big Issue North is a street paper sold by homeless and vulnerably housed people in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, who buy magazines for £1.50 and sell them on for £3. Vendors sell in all weathers, sometimes working 6 or 7 days a week for up to 13 hours per day, so we desperately need warm hats, scarves, gloves and socks to help them through the cold months ahead when they return to work. 60% of our vendors are men and 40% are women, so unisex items in neutral colours are ideal, though we will very gratefully accept anything that people would like to donate."

Bronte Schiltz | Fundraising and Communications Officer | Big Issue North

Howard, a Big Issue North vendor in Leeds, before and after lockdown

Things You Can Do Today

  • Make a donation to the hardship fund, providing everything vendors need to survive the weeks ahead, by texting HARDSHIP to 70970 to give £5, going to easydonate.org/HARDSHIP
  • Buy the magazine, either in Sainsbury’s, Co-Op, McColl’s or Booths, or online at issuu.com/bigissuenorth. Do some of your Christmas shopping at shop.bigissuenorth.com. There's a wide range of products in store, from back issues and a new quarterly subscription magazine, The New Issue, to music merchandise, to handmade jewellery and homeware made from recycled copies of Big Issue North. You can also buy a 2021 calendar, a Christmas 2020 bundle, including a calendar, a Big Issue North tote bag featuring quotes from poet Ian McMillan, and five pun-tastic Christmas cards!
  • You can also support Big Issue North by buying a mask from www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MancMadeltd, who are donating £1 from every sale to our hardship fund.

CALLING ALL KNITTERS!

If you have a knack for knitting, Big Issue North are currently looking for volunteers to knit warm hats, scarves, gloves and socks for their vendors for when they are able to return to work. Anything you can provide can be sent to Big Issue North, 463 Stretford Road, Manchester, M16 9AB, and will be very gratefully received.

We’re providing you with five knitting projects to create to help for Big Issue North! Sign up to CraftWorld for free to access the patterns below and keep up to date with all the latest craft inspiration and product releases!

  1. Beetroot Beanie
  2. Flamey Cowl
  3. Hat, Mitts & Cowl
  4. Ombre Hat & Mitts
  5. Twisted Pillar Socks

Share pics of your knits with us and any support you can give to Big Issue North would be amazing!

Happy crafting,

Natalie