I came to London last year, in the summer, after I lost a job on the south coast. I had been working in a restaurant in the Butlin’s resort in Bognor Regis but they had to let some of the front-of-house people like me go, unfortunately.
Amy’s Big Issue journey takes her to Euston Station
I came to London last year, in the summer, after I lost a job on the south coast. I had been working in a restaurant in the Butlin’s resort in Bognor Regis but they had to let some of the front-of-house people like me go, unfortunately.
So I decided to come to London and start again. I knew a couple of people here, I always liked coming to the city, and I thought the job prospects would be better. But the first six months were tough. I had to sleep rough for a time, which wasn’t easy and certainly wears you down.
About seven months ago I went to The Big Issue office and got myself registered to sell the magazine. My pitch was at Angel and it wasn’t easy at first but I soon got into the swing of it. The Big Issue staff were great, helped me out with a few things, and I started to realise selling the magazine really suited me.
It’s flexible work, it’s been helping me get my confidence back after a rough time, and of course it gives me some money. And also, I really enjoy working outdoors with no boss standing over you telling you to do this or that. It’s never a slog, and with so many different people around the days are always different. It’s broadened my horizons.
I changed my pitch after a while to sell at Tower Hill, I enjoyed chatting to the tourists over there. They’re always in a good mood, not in a rush, and they really appreciate what’s around them.
