NEWTOWN: Big Issue vendors come from a range of different backgrounds. Some may be struggling with homelessness, others with long-term unemployment. They all have different reasons for selling the magazine but they are all working to improve their lives.
For Adrian The Big Issue has giving him the opportunity to recover from health issues and still earn a living.
“I did a lot of work in the security industry for many years. I’m also a diabetic and have lost two toes off my right foot on two separate occasions. It was probably an accident which first sparked it and weakened the bones.
“I just needed something to do while I’m looking around for work and recovering. I’m really happy I did this now because I find working with The Big Issue, and where I am in Newtown in particular, I have greater interaction with people. It’s also bringing a lot of things out, good qualities I’m finding I’ve got within me.
“I try to think of what I’m doing as a business and try to achieve good customer service.
“I always keep a good float on me and I try and say to people ‘hello, how are you’ and everything.
“Some people tell me to ‘keep the magazine’ or ‘resell the magazine’. I usually try give them a digital copy instead, that way at least it’s still a transaction.
“On the weekends I always like to take a packet of wheatmeal biscuits. When I’m trying to do the sales on the pitch at King Street I always say hello to the people, give the dog a pat and a biscuit. That’s when I hit them with the line, ‘Would you like to buy a copy of The Big Issue?’
“I want to get back into the mainstream, either security or cleaning work, but I’ll be sorry if it does happen because I’ll miss Newtown. There are a lot of interesting people here.”
