The Big Issue increases distribution points

"I am very pleased with our new satellite depot in Bellville. That The Big Issue has not only endured since 1996, but that it continues to provide job creation, capacity building and social support services to an ever-increasing number of vendors and their families, bodes well for the future and for our vision as an organisation," says Trudy Vlok, MD of The Big Issue.

According to senior distribution manager Lance Mostert, they have already "badged up" a number of vendors to sell the magazine. Mostert, who oversees the two existing distribution facilities and the mobile distribution team that delivers magazines directly to vendors at their pitches, will be at the new Northern Suburbs depot three times a week.

Lifeline

Located at the premises of The Tygerburg Association for Street People (TASP) at the taxi rank, the new Big Issue office is a lifeline to the homeless and unemployed in the area.

As with the existing vendor base, social workers and trainers will support the newly recruited vendors with individual counselling, vocational, life and business skills training and childcare subsidies and, where possible, negotiate for study bursaries at local colleges and educational facilities on their behalf, so that they can move off the street into the formal employment sector.

"We are committed to tackling poverty and unemployment and see our move into Bellville as a means of expanding our services to surrounding needy communities," said Vlok.

On average, 4000 magazines are sold per week, with sales in the Northern Suburbs set to raise that considerably.

If you're in the area, look out for your Big Issue vendor at the following intersections: Durban and Voortrekker Road, Durban and Old Oak, Durban and Raglan, the junction of Voortrekker and Vasco Boulevard, and De La Rey and Mike Pienaar Road. More pitches will be made available in the near future, says Mostert.

The Big Issue magazine is on sale for R14, with R7 going to the vendor.