Jinx, Boots, Broadmead, Bristol
When he's not on his pitch, Jinx spends most of his time in the library. Fantasy is his favourite genre
Photo: Frankie Stone
I started selling Big Issue before Covid. I stopped, but I became homeless again, so I came back. They let me have my old pitch back. It was a godsend, really, because the worst thing about being homeless is doing nothing, just sitting around.
When I came back to selling, all my customers came flooding back. It’s really nice to see them – when you see somebody every day, then you don’t see them for five years, it’s nice when you see them again.
I’m 45 or 46 – I haven’t celebrated a birthday since I was 11. I’ve been an orphan since then. As soon as I was 16, I was out on the road. I’m actually from Dundee in Scotland. But I don’t class that as home, because there’s nothing there for me. The only place that’s my home is wherever I’m standing. I’ve been in Bristol for about 10 years. I love Bristol, the West Country is a place I’ve always felt really comfortable. And I’ve picked up the accent!
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I was sleeping rough, but I’m in the hostel now. If I work hard, I’ll get out quick. I’d like to end up living anywhere I could call my own.
I was working as a plasterer and a decorator before Big Issue. I’ll try to get back into that, but I’ll sell the mag for as long as I need to. I can’t just sit around. And I’m going to do some peer-to-peer work with Big Issue, helping other vendors get set up.
I never ask someone to buy a magazine, it’s not my way. I’m standing here in the tabard, so they know what I’m doing. But if I say hello to the same person every single morning for a week, you have a connection, and they might buy an issue.
When I’m not out selling, I’m usually in the library. I’m a massive reader. I don’t watch TV or anything. I’ll go on YouTube if I want to watch something, but 90% of the time I’m reading. I’m a big fantasy book fan, The Lord of the Rings and stuff like that.
I don’t have a favourite book, because I’ve read so many – it depends what kind of mood I’m in. It’s the same as music, it depends what mood you’re in. I’ll read anything. If it’s written on a page, I’ll read it. When I was homeless, and sleeping in tents and stuff, I would just go and read for four or five hours.
Growing up the way I grew up, if you didn’t read, you wouldn’t do anything. I mean, because I didn’t have any parents, I didn’t get new bikes or new computers for Christmas. All I got was a library card.
I also like American football; I watch it on YouTube. I like the Kansas City Chiefs. I’ll never go to America though – I don’t have a passport, for the first thing.
The ID thing is a really big problem for homeless people. It’s hard to get one, but if you don’t have a passport, it locks you out of everything, absolutely everything. It should be easier: if you want us to have ID, then give it to us.
Being homeless can be quite lonely and frightening, but I’m used to it now. If I could give any advice to my younger self, it’d probably be to grow up faster.
I’d just like to thank everyone that buys a Big Issue. All the vendors really appreciate the people that buy it. And, you know, it’s important that people do buy it.
Words: Lottie Elton
Boots, Broadmead, Bristol, UK