NEWSLETTER WINTER 2014
THE POW ER TO SAV E
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WE ARE HERE TO HELP PEOPLE WORK THEIR WAY OUT OF THEIR SITUATIONS
NEWSLETTER WINTER 2014
HOW VENDORS GOT INVOLVED WITH THE WORLD CUP, P12
CONTENTS A Station In Life 03 Network Rail and vendor David make history The Place To Be 04 Corporate placements and the power of work The Gifts Of Life 06 A project promoting the alternatives to begging Party Pieces 08 Art, auctions and inspiration at the Big Red Party Cat Power 10 The story that captured the world's imagination News From Around The Country 12 World Cups, social media and health weeks The Vendor Support Fund 14 How you can change a life In Memoriam 16 We salute vendors who have passed away
Cover picture: Magnus Arrevad The Big Issue Foundation is dedicated to the wellbeing of Big Issue vendors and we work with over 2500 individuals across the UK. Our skilled Service Brokers work one-to-one with vendors, creating bespoke life action plans with a core self-help ethos, to tackle issues ranging from health and accommodation through to money management and aspirations. The Big Issue Foundation is about taking control, moving forward, gaining independence and rebuilding lives.
1-5 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, London, SW8 2LN Tel: 0207 526 3454 www.bigissue.org.uk Email: foundation@bigissue.com www.twitter.com/TBIF www.facebook.com/TheBigIssueFoundation Registered Charity No. 1049077 UNSUBSCRIBE INFO: If you wish to unsubscribe or subscribe to e-newsletters please email foundation@bigissue.com or call 0207 526 3454
BIG ISSUE VENDORS work outside no matter what the conditions. There’s a bus, there’s a coffee shop, there’s a Big Issue vendor; the familiar face and red tabard of your local vendor can be seen in towns across the land. Not everyone understands that The Big Issue offers the opportunity for people to start their own micro-business, to earn, and to begin to work their way out of their situation. It’s important to understand the difference that work makes. Our vendors are not stereotypes, they are not beggars. When you purchase a copy of the magazine, it is a commercial transaction just like any other. Our vendors have experience of extreme social and financial exclusion. It is our on-going mission to help irradicate this. When someone drops through every safety net you can imagine, they need friends, someone to help give them a hand up, an opportunity to change things on their own terms. This is exactly what your support funds. Our service brokers are catalysts; they connect vendors to new opportunities and support them in their personal journeys of change. In this newsletter you will read stories about how we have helped vendors move forward, towards a brighter future. The things that can happen to people in their journey to the streets, and the things that can happen when they arrive there, would challenge even the strongest of us. The resilience and commitment to turn experiences around and rise up is often astonishing and truly inspiring. We are seeing an increase in vendors with complex needs, who would often be written off, destined to exist on the margins at great personal cost to themselves and, sometimes, to others. It is vital that we look beyond this. Our vendors are experts by experience and, from their knowledge, our small services team has developed a highly effective framework of support. Each journey is the vendor’s journey, but we walk that path together, opening doors, overcoming issues and turning red lights to green. Success for a small organisation such as ours is all about creativity and resourcefulness. This newsletter celebrates vendors’ achievements and illustrates what can be achieved with a little help from our friends. Earlier this year, Network Rail launched the first ever pitch on a station concourse and integrated this with some on-the-job training and support. You can read how Big Issue vendor Gary began a corporate pitch at Cadbury’s in Birmingham and how this is taking him forward to new opportunities. We celebrate the success of James and his street cat Bob, and artist John Dolan, entertaining, stimulating, changing minds forever. We also pay tribute to vendors who we have lost along the way. Remarkable individuals fondly remembered by their customers and the local communities in which they worked. This season, please support our work in whatever way you can. We are 100 per cent reliant upon donations to fund our work. Our small team makes every penny count. Please help us do more. Thank you friends,
Stephen Robertson Chief Executive, The Big Issue Foundation
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PHOTOGRAPHER: RALPH HODGSON
A STATION IN LIFE
The first permanent Big Issue pitch inside a railway station is a big step forward for the organisation and the lucky first incumbent
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T MAY ONLY be a 1.5m-square circular piece of red vinyl but to The Big Issue and Big Issue Foundation it represents a small bit of history – and to vendor David Manso, it represents an important step on his journey away from the streets. Although Big Issue vendors seem part of the landscape, particularly around busy places and commuter routes, this is the first permanent Big Issue vendor pitch inside a railway station. “Standing up all day is really tiring," said David, "and when it is raining you can be standing for two to three hours and sell only one magazine, meaning you make just £1.25. "It is really difficult to make money when the weather controls how much you can earn, and so it’s even more difficult to keep smiling on those days. My regular customers make a real difference on days like those.” But those days have gone for David (pictured above). The opportunity he has been given has been made possible by a team of interested and supportive parties. Chris Stuchbery, distribution team leader for The Big Issue in London, said: “The Big Issue Company is thrilled to be working in partnership with Network Rail, British Transport Police, Euston stakeholders and The Big Issue Foundation to pilot this vendor pitch. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the vendor to become part of the Euston community, raising awareness of The Big Issue and serving rail customers within the station.” Beks Richards, part of Network Rail’s station team at Euston,
Owen Baily
added: “We’re extremely proud that Euston will host the first permanent Big Issue vendor pitch inside a railway station and we look forward to helping someone who is homeless run their business in a safe and welcoming environment." Network Rail have enrolled vendor David on a customer service training programme, which includes work experience at the station, and time spent shadowing and being mentored by Network Rail staff. The pilot initiative will be closely monitored and could be made available to other Network Rail-managed stations after the successful completion of a six-month trial. “It will be fantastic to have a familiar face on the station selling The Big Issue," Richards goes on, "and also gaining valuable training and work experience with the team here at Euston.” Stephen Robertson, chief executive of The Big Issue Foundation, agrees: “We are delighted that Network Rail is taking the lead in welcoming a Big Issue vendor to Euston station. "We’re looking forward to working on an exciting programme of awareness and fundraising events whilst providing the selected vendor with a valuable development opportunity.” The final word though, goes to Bilbao-born David, a plasterer who lost his job when a contract ended. “Thank you very much to all the good people who have supported me and to those who gave me this fantastic opportunity, I’m really excited."
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difficult to make mone y when the we ather controls what you e arn "
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E H TL A C E
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T OBE m p a ny A pit ch in a big c o bil it y, ta s r o d n e v a e iv g ca n a new work ex p er ienc e , hop e outlo ok a nd fre sh
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he chance to increase sales while gaining valuable experience in a corporate environment selling in the foyer of a large office building can be very attractive for a lot of our vendors. Gary Johnson came to The Big Issue with the short-term goal of successfully managing a pitch in the city centre, but also with long-term goals of finding stability in his housing, and eventually securing work-based experience. We were able to offer Gary a six-month corporate pitch at Mondelez International at their Bournville site where they make their famous Cadbury’s brands after he completed a successful interview. Seeing Gary on his pitch, on a Wednesday
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morning, and helping with his development was hugely rewarding as Gary has a zeal for his own personal improvement. During the placement, Gary was referred onto the Ready For Work scheme run by The Big Issue Foundation’s partner Business In The Community. This scheme provides training and an important two weeks of work experience. Gary was delighted to get a work placement at the Cadbury’s offices as a porter, supporting logistics. He feels like he had something of a head start as he knew the staff and the environment, which gave him the confidence to complete the placement with flying colours. Tom Belte, Area Service Broker The Big Issue Foundation
able to offer gary a pitch at mondelez " we were international at their bournville site " Gary Johnson with Amy Johnson from Mondelez International
PHOTOGRAPHER: RUSS CAPPS
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AND WHAT DOES VENDOR GARY THINK? MY NAME IS Gary – three and a half years ago I was homeless. I approached The Big Issue to get help and sort myself out. I started vending near Moor Street Station in Birmingham and over the last year I have built up my pitch there. Things have changed and I am on the up. I have got my own flat, and I vend every single day – I have found stability through this. I have also been part of a programme selling my magazines at Mondelez International where the Cadbury factory is in Bournville. I vended there for six months and got to know new regulars. During that time I went on a two-week work placement on a Ready For Work
Scheme with Business In The Community. I was able to update my work experience and build on the skills I have developed over the years. I got accepted for the placement after being interviewed and I worked on the production line at Cadbury's, as a porter organising products in the factory. It was a real success for me; getting a taster of work-based employment has made me think about where my future is headed. I hope to be able to use these skills and personal developments over the next year to get a full-time job. This makes me feel very confident and more skilled; I have come a long way.
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THE GIFT OF LIFE
A unique project is highlighting the fact that giving money to beggars can do more harm than good THE BIG ISSUE IN Bath has become a lead partner in a new initiative to encourage people who are begging to engage with specialist services, such as The Big Issue, instead. The aim is to help more people get more support by giving them a reason to make positive changes and move towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Individuals can become trapped in a pattern of begging by the generosity of people who give a hand-out, without realising it may be doing more harm than good. Working in partnership with a range of other local support services, in particular the drug and alcohol support teams, it became clear that a large number of the people begging in the city were doing so to support an addiction. Ultimately, the kindness of others was hastening people who were begging towards a drug-related death. The initiative in Bath, called Your Kindness Could Kill, aims to raise awareness of the damage that can be done if you give to someone who is begging. We have been out and about doing talks in the community and it is clear that once people understand the consequences they are much less likely to give to someone who is begging. In addition to the awareness-raising campaign, we are working closely with other agencies to do more dual outreach. This can make it an easier choice for individuals to access support services instead of begging. We are in regular contact with the
police and city centre management teams so that, as well as enforcement, we can work together to keep encouraging people to take steps to move on with their lives. We have had some good early successes. For example, in Bath this summer the number of new vendors doubled, largely as a result of the campaign. Once someone is selling The Big Issue we have a much greater chance of helping them move on and use the fantastic support that’s available. It's early days and we need to keep the message out there but Your Kindness Could Kill is making a difference. The campaign has also provided us with an opportunity to remind people that our vendors are working not begging. Several of our vendors had been subject to verbal abuse from people begging on or near their pitches. It was important for them to feel they have a voice and some of them have given interviews to the local paper and to the BBC about their experiences. We are now working on a second phase of the campaign and are planning to get some of the vendors involved by giving them a chance to tell their own stories about how The Big Issue has helped them begin to achieve their goals. Such has been the impact of the campaign that our team in Bristol is now liaising with partners there to look at implementing a similar strategy. Sam Grief, Area Service Broker, Bath and Bristol
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Supported by:
For more information and to register visit
WWW.BIGISSUE.ORG.UK/WALK @TBIF #BigNightWalk /TheBigIssueFoundation THE BIG ISSUE FOUNDATION / p7 / WINTER 2014
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PARTY PIECES
PHOTOGRAPHER: MAGNUS ARREVAD
Inspiration and generosity are always on the menu at The Big Issue Foundation's annual Big Red Party celebrations IT WAS A celebration to remember, with Big Issue vendors past and present mixing with the elite of theatre, art and business – as well as friends of The Big Issue – to mark The Big Issue Foundation’s work in supporting our vendors get back on their feet. Held at the OXO Tower in London on October 23 in partnership with Storm Capital Management, the Big Red Party raised £30,000 to help the Foundation to continue to support vendors. Last year alone the Foundation worked with more than 2,500 people and achieved more than 4,500 positive steps forward. “We are celebrating not because we are in denial about the increasing strain on our services, not because we are in denial about our future challenges or because we see ourselves as do-gooders; we celebrate simply because we can overcome and this is a reason to believe,” said Stephen Robertson, The Big Issue Foundation CEO. As well as magical entertainment – in more ways than one – there were incredible auction prizes on offer, including prints from the world-renowned street artist Stik, a bespoke piece from former homeless artist Tagzee, and a unique drawing of George the dog from John Dolan. Former Big Issue vendor turned international bestselling author James Bowen (and Street Cat Bob) generously donated a beautiful photograph of Bob, and James was present on the evening signing two of his bestselling books; both of which touch on his time as a Big Issue vendor. Meanwhile, former vendor Sam Woodlock shared her incredible journey with guests, eloquently reminding everyone about the power of The Big Issue mechanism and the importance of the support offered by The Big Issue Foundation. “I bought one of the very first Big Issue magazines 23 years ago and it continues to transform lives to this day,” actor and director Simon Callow told the 200-plus guests. “The Big Issue and The Big Issue Foundation are miracle-workers.”
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T A C
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E ALL STRUGGLE to make the changes in our lives that will help us to move forward. That change is often only possible because we make our minds up to do something and there is someone there to see it through with us. For former Big Issue vendor James Bowen that someone was a cat… a cat he named Bob: "The day I met Bob my life changed forever. I was no longer invisible. People not only stopped and bought a copy of The Big Issue from me but often stopped to talk to me," says James. Bob, to this day, will accompany James everywhere, willingly listen to him play guitar – James was a busker – and throw in the odd high-five, a trick that still charms any observers. In 2007, James, a recovering heroin addict, found an injured cat curled up on a step. The cat was starving and injured, seemingly alone in a block of council flats in Tottenham. After a few days James took Bob to the RSPCA and they gave him a course of antibiotics, which cost £28. "This was pretty much the last money I had, but I didn't feel it was too much to help something in need," says James. "I've always loved cats." James himself was living in sheltered accommodation at the time. He had come to London having lived a difficult life in Australia with his mum where he found himself being bullied at school. He found himself on the streets. "When you're sleeping rough, you are surrounded by people doing drugs," he says. "They offer you some, saying it will help you sleep – which it does – or make you feel better. And before you know it, you're thinking, 'Why not? I've got nothing else.'" But James committed to helping Bob, and nursed the cat back to health as he himself felt his life was turning a corner. He soon found that the cat followed him everywhere he went, even on the bus, to the great amusement of fellow travellers. Bob took to sitting quietly on James’s shoulder, or on the ground when he was selling The Big Issue in London. Bob became an attraction and was good for business, whether it was busking or selling The Big Issue. Passers-by and regular customers would bring Bob bits of food and gifts started appearing – he had a collection of 20 specially-knitted items at one point.
James’s inspiring story of how this unlikely friendship helped him get over his addictions to heroin and methadone is recounted in his book A Street Cat Named Bob. With this book, James has joined an elite club of writers with more than three million copies sold, and the book has been translated into over 35 languages. He has also published a follow-up and a children's book, as well as a Christmas book coming out this year. There is talk of a film, and with the money from his books James has been able to pay off his debts and fly to see his mum in Australia. But James is not one for forgetting the important things in life. “One of the best things in my life now is that I can help people (and animals) who are still voiceless – and invisible – to be heard and seen. It makes me proud that the book has opened people’s eyes to how The Big Issue works. That selling The Big Issue is an actual job! The work that The Big Issue Foundation does in supporting Big Issue vendors is so vital.” When Bob featured on the cover of The Big Issue in July the world went in to a frenzy trying to get a copy, with thousands of fans ordering from around the world. Big Issue magazines signed by James have been sold on eBay for over £600. "All the attention is a bit scary but so is sleeping rough on the streets of London for the first time," he says. "You just adapt. This is an amazing opportunity to show the world how life is on the streets." Indeed the world is listening: A Street Cat Named Bob has gone truly global and topped the book charts in the US, Brazil, Portugal and Turkey, while in Germany the book held the number one spot for 27 consecutive weeks. Bob has more than 50,000 followers on Twitter and 250,000 fans on Facebook. And James and Bob appreciate their support. "Every time we get a fan picture we frame it and put it on the wall," says James. "I try to respond to as much fanmail as possible. To anyone who hasn't received a reply, let them know that in my heart I love their messages."
THE STORY OF JAMES BOWEN AND STREET CAT BOB HAS LITERALLY GONE ROUND THE WORLD AND SOLD OVER 3 MILLION BOOKS. IT GOES TO SHOW THAT HELP AND SALVATION COMES IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES
@streetcatbob www.facebook.com/StreetCatBob James's new book, A Gift From Bob, can be bought from Amazon and if you go to Amazon via giveasyoulive.com and choose 'The Big Issue Foundation', a percentage will automatically be donated at no cost to you.
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY SETTING SALES TARGETS VIA THE WORLD CUP? READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW VENDORS USED BRAZIL 2014 TO INSPIRE THEM, AND WHAT ELSE OUR TEAMS AROUND THE UK HAVE BEEN UP TO
WEST MIDLANDS
In the Midlands we united the World Cup with celebrating our vendors' goals and sales targets – this was done through running a month of week-on-week sales targets placing our vendors as ‘goal makers’ and reviewing sales. We made this enjoyable and spirited by having quizzes, games and World Cup leagues, which were based around vendor sales. We also supported vendors who needed extra coaching through sales reviews and planning. This was run by the full team and was a project that ran through the full tournament. Vendors enjoyed the targeting a lot! (Vendor Kevin, pictured above right).
OXFORD
In Oxford, we are hoping to better promote the achievements of our vendors and the work that we do. Big Issue Foundation Oxford are now on Facebook: www. facebook.com/bigissueoxford and have established a Twitter account: @bigissueoxford. We are getting our vendors involved as much as possible. With that in mind, one of our volunteers is working towards a Big Issue vendor photography exhibition.
BATH AND BRISTOL
The summer began with good news as we heard our application to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Action Fund had been successful. The funding has enabled us to provide more support to vendors by upskilling our volunteers and so extending the amount and type of outreach we do. We’ve also used this as an opportunity to build on our partnerships working with other agencies to do more dual outreach with specialist workers in housing and drug and alcohol support. We ran a range of activities for vendors as part of Sales and Money Month. This
WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT TO OUR VENDORS BY UPSKILLING OUR VOLUNTEERS
included working with the Credit Union to help improve access to accounts and one-to-one budgeting advice from Lloyd's Bank. We have had some great outcomes already with some vendors opening accounts and being more proactive in managing their money. We also worked with vendors to look at innovative ways to raise awareness about the fact that they are working not begging, In Bristol the team ran a joint project with Young Bristol. The organisation help promote volunteering to young people in the city and the project resulted in a very successful exhibition to encourage people to think differently about homelessness. Ten of our Bristol vendors were actively involved in putting the exhibition together. It provided a great opportunity for them to have a voice and was a fantastic confidence boost for those who got involved.
LONDON
News from the streets of London indicate that our continued involvement with ‘vendor volunteer days’ remain very popular, not only with those taking part as volunteers but also with our vendors. Staff who work for organisations supporting The Big issue Foundation are able to take part in a day
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THANK YOU TO
A FEW PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS THAT DESERVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU Georgia Byron for amazing design work James and Bob for the most heart-warming and generous support Storm Capital for outstanding support Matt Rees for his tireless commitment
WE WORK WITH THE CREDIT UNION TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BANK ACCOUNTS experiencing life from the other side of the magazine attempting to sell it with a local vendor whilst learning about their individual story. Our relationship with WhatsonStage has also led to a number of recognisable faces behind the tabard. Next time you pass a Big Issue vendor stop to say hi... you never know who you might meet! You may also have seen in the press that we have just opened a pitch inside Euston station, the first ever in a UK station. David, the vendor taking part, is not only excited about the increased sales this may bring but also Network Rail’s offer to provide some training and development opportunities‌ watch this space!
DORSET AND HAMPSHIRE
Coming out of the summer months and heading towards winter we start planning our regular Big Issue Foundation Health
Northern Trust and Simmons & Simmons Charitable Trust for bringing vendors in
Week, this always highlights health inequalities within Big Issue vendors and especially the rough sleeping vendors we work with. Overcoming the barriers to healthcare can be challenging but recently with help from public health we met the practice manager from our local GP surgery. I am pleased to say this means we have a designated GP surgery for our Bournemouth Big Issue Vendors who have no permanent address; registration ID is simply a letter of introduction and a Big Issue badge. Vendors in the Southampton office are lucky to have a homeless day centre with a GP surgery on site, easily accessible. This does not always mean, though, that healthcare is accessed so Southampton service brokers have pre-booked a 'tooth bus' to visit the office during health week.
Felix Appelbe for always believing John Dolan, George the dog and Richard Howard-Griffin Carl Williams David McGaw Jennifer Oldenburg Oona for her incredible generosity this summer Nicola and John from the Samaritans in central London Lindsey Reeve at Wragge Lawrence Graham
Each year The Big Issue Foundation runs a Health Week of activities to promote: physical health needs and access to primary care (GPs, pharmacists, dentists, opticians); mental health and wellbeing; drug and alcohol-related issues: and access to vaccinations and screenings
The Bournemouth team for jumping into fundraising
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THE VENDOR SUPPORT FUND HOW YOUR DONATIONS HELP The Big Issue Foundation is the charity arm of The Big Issue and is 100% reliant on donations from the public, in other other words: Your generous support. Selling The Big Issue is the first step, but the transformational work starts when The Big Issue Foundation’s service brokers engage with vendors. Your donations go towards paying for the salaries of Service Brokers who are based in our offices around the country. These people are our heroes as they are committed every day to help give people, otherwise given up on by society, another chance. Often we aren’t talking about a second, but rather
eighth or ninth chance. It’s a job that requires exceptional patience, commitment and belief that change can happen. Your donations also pay for our Vendor Support Fund which is available on application to vendors throughout the UK that aims to give a hand up to vendors with a specific goal in mind. Vendors save up and contribute 20 percent towards the cost of the item.
SUSAN was previously homeless. She suffers from long term health issues and as such cannot work regular hours. With The Big Issue, Susan can decide when she is fit enough to vend and the money she earns helps her afford her accommodation. She has recently saved up her contribution towards a passport; the Big Issue Foundation granted Vendor Support Funds to make this more affordable. Susan is now saving towards and researching the details for a holiday: her first in over 2 decades.
MARK has saved money from his Big Issue earnings to buy a van and has started his own painting and decorating business… initial signs are very promising and he hopes to employ a friend to help him with the workload.
THOMAS had wanted to sell The Big Issue for some time but his chaotic lifestyle led to a few false starts. Working with his family and support worker he was able to commit to selling in a more organised way and this structure has helped him commit to a programme of reducing substance abuse. He is now a full time vendor and very proud to wear his tabard! SIMON has been selling the Big Issue for some time and had a history of addiction problems. He has been increasingly focused and has made good use of the vendor savings facility at the office in Vauxhall which allows him to keep his earnings safe and out of temptations reach. He is about to start volunteering with an agency that provides substance abuse counselling with a view to becoming a support worker in the future.
Below are some examples of how your donations are put to use, to support vendors in their journey towards a better life:
CHRISTIAN got a Vendor Support Fund grant of £50 to help keep his three-legged best friend George by his side. The two have been inseparable for years but because of George's disability it made getting around really difficult. Now thanks to a grant from our Vendor Support Fund, Christian cycles to his pitch every day with George smiling happily behind in his brand new trailer! It's all been made possible through your support, so thank you! RODNEY in Bournemouth has struggled with mental health problems and addiction issues but feels much more settled now in Bournemouth thanks to The Big issue Foundation staff as they’ve helped him access a lot of help. He now goes to AA meetings, has completed an NVQ in Customer Services and he has his own little rented place in Bournemouth which income from selling The Big Issue goes towards. After featuring in “ My Pitch” in the Big Issue magazine Rodney has been asked to talk on an ‘Inspirational Breakfast radio show’.
Please note that some names and places have been changed as the vendor wishes to stay anonymous.
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RETURN ADDRESS
Please return this completed form to our freepost address The Big Issue Foundation, Freepost LONI7469, London, SW8 2BR
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W E L L- K N O W N E D I N B U R G H VENDOR LOSES BAT TLE WITH CANCER Staff, customers and Edinburgh's Lord Provost all pay tribute to "exemplary vendor" John White (above), as we remember our vendors who have passed away this year
JOHN WHITE, WHO sold The Big Issue in the Meadows, Edinburgh, since 2006, passed away at the city’s Western General Hospital aged 69 on September 1 after losing his battle with cancer, . The Englishman (pictured) was a hugely popular character in the Scottish capital and his distinctive, rhyming call to encourage sales could be heard every morning around the scenic Middle Meadows Walk. He also took pride in being a point-of-call for tourists and others looking for directions. “John will be enormously missed," said Caitlin Rodgers, Big Issue Team Leader in Scotland. "He was a brilliant character and an exemplary Big Issue vendor. He really believed in The Big Issue and took great pride in his work. “One of my fondest memories of John was the trip we took to Glasgow with him after he’d been involved in The Big Issue’s Big Sell Off earlier this year. “On the way, a few of us were using the lights on our phones to do our make-up in the van and the next day John appeared in the office with a vanity
case and two torches, insisting these were to be kept in the van at all times in case we were ever in the same situation again,” says Rogers. Edinburgh's Lord Provost, RT Hon Donald Wilson, was given some tips from John on vending when the pair
" H E R E A L LY B E L I E V E D IN THE BIG ISSUE AND TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN HIS WORK" met during February’s Big Sell-Off. “Earlier this year I was a guest Big Issue vendor for a day, and I was fortunate enough to meet with John and speak with him about life selling the magazine,” Wilson said. “I am very sorry to hear the news of his passing. “It is clear that John’s spirit boosted Big Issue sales in the Meadows, and
through his role he raised countless funds for its charity. His story raises the issue of homelessness in Edinburgh, and it’s important people and organisations do everything they can to raise awareness of homelessness in Scotland, and that we work together to make it a thing of the past.” Last month, John also helped Edinburgh rugby players scrub up on their sales technique during the Pro 12 club’s recent guest sell-off. “John was in his element with the rugby players,” said Rodgers. “He was showing them how it’s done and telling them that they could learn some more if they came down to Middle Meadows Walk in the morning.”
Other vendors who sadly passed away this year: Oxford - Neil Tatum aka ‘Spud’. London - Jurgen Jolly. Dorset & Hampshire - Patrick Hennessy (aged 30); Holly Givens (53); Simon Wallis (36); Gheorge Inga (47); Zydrunas Victorinas, known as Bruno (38)
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