TEENAGERS based in some of the economically disadvantaged areas of the country have helped produce the latest edition of the Big Issue.

Youth charity OnSide nominated a number of 13 to 18-year-olds engaged with their youth centres to provide content for this week’s special edition of the magazine.

Among interviewees chosen by the teenagers were X Factor winner James Arthur and influencer Simon Squibb.

Topics covered include educational support for people with cerebral palsy and other special educational needs, and mental health challenges faced by youngsters.

Hundreds of young Big Issue vendors have accessed support from the magazine for issues including health and wellbeing.

Big Issue editor Paul McNamee said: “For this very special edition, we wanted to learn of the unfiltered hopes, concerns and future plans of this special group of young people.

“They chose the content, conducted the interviews, guided the Big Issue team on how they wanted the pages [to] look.”

Jamie Masraff, OnSide’s chief executive, said: “At a time when so many young people are facing unprecedented challenges, we need more opportunities for them to be seen, heard, and celebrated.”