GLASGOW schoolchildren have helped create a special edition of The Big Issue and will this week help sell the magazine as street vendors.

Fifteen pupils from four schools across Scotland visited the charity’s editorial headquarters on Glasgow’s Bath Street to help create the issue and a social enterprise-inspired supplement.

The supplement will be included in all copies of the Scottish edition which will also be sold at a number of schools across the country.

Big IssueThe cover of the magazine’s next issue and the special supplement (Big Issue/PA)

Russell Blackman, Big Issue managing director, said he was “excited” the magazine was working with the Social Enterprise Academy (SEA) to help produce the issue.

He said: “It was brilliant to work so closely with an investee of our social investment arm, Big Issue Invest, in order to offer a truly special run of the magazine for our Scottish readers.

“The magazine has been written, edited and sold by the pupils, a reflection of the pupil-led nature of the schools programme that SEA runs so successfully, which empowers young people to take action about the social issues that matter to them.”

Glasgow schools selling the special edition are Bellahouston Academy, Carmunnock Primary, Mary Russell School, Pirie Park Primary, St Albert's Primary and St Joseph's Primary.

The school in West Dunbartonshire is Kilpatrick School.

The Big Issue is available to buy across the UK for £2.50 with the special edition on sale from March 18 to 24.

It will also be sold by pupils in schools in Fife and the Highlands and Islands.

Street vendorThe schoolchildren also met street vendor Paul to hear about his experiences (Big Issue/PA)

Neil McLean, SEA chief executive, said: “The schools special magazine is giving Scotland’s young people a platform to shout about the issues that they care about, creatively showing how they are solving these issues by running their own sustainable social enterprises.

“Through taking part in Social Enterprise Schools, pupils are empowered to take action and affect real social change in their communities.

“As well as developing key employability and entrepreneurship skills for the future, our young people are inspiring other young people as far away as Australia, to develop socially entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges facing our world today.”