Big Issue sellers rebel over sponsor

The magazine has signed a 60,000 deal that will see its street sellers wearing the logo of wine producer Fairhills on new high-visibility red vests.

However the charity's vendors believe the deal is inappropriate as many of them are recovering alcoholics and drug addicts.

Homeless Matthew Blackman, 40, who sells the Big Issue in Bristol city centre, said: "It's disgusting because most of us vendors are either drug addicts or alcoholics. To be sponsored by a company that profits from that seems wrong.

"They are making a big mistake. Even though they are being paid a lot of money it's still bad publicity. It's like some bad, ironic joke."

A vendor in Bath, who gave his name as Steve, reportedly said: "I am a bit annoyed to hear that a wine company will be sponsoring the jackets as a lot of the vendors have an alcohol dependency.

"If it is helping the Big Issue then it is important but I think the company should provide some kind of support to vendors on how to get off the alcohol."

Bernard Fontannaz, the founder of Fairhills in South Africa, said the company was showing its support for the treatment of alcohol misuse by sponsoring the vendors.

Mr Fontannaz stressed that vendors had the choice of wearing the vests or not

The Big Issue offers homeless and vulnerable people the opportunity to earn a legitimate income. Vendors buy magazines and then sell them to the public, keeping the profit.

Big Issue founder John Bird said: "We are enormously grateful to Fairhills for enabling us to produce a national uniform for our 3,200 vendors across the UK.

"It is hoped the jackets will not only provide protection against the elements but will also increase the visibility of our vendors."