Colin, Motherwell Cross

Photo: Exposure Photo Agency

I was brought up in the East End of Glasgow and I lived there with my mother all my days. And then, when mum died, that was it, I did not really have anywhere else to go. I lived and cared for my mother all those years.

I had a power-washing business with a friend and we did well at it to be honest, but he hurt his back and, by that time, I was in my sixties and we decided to call it quits. Then I was in the house for about a year and a half, bored out of my skull. I was not in that dark place, but it was getting darker. When you sit in that house, your confidence definitely goes down and you start becoming more isolated, more vulnerable. 

I met a young girl selling Big Issue and I bought the magazine from her. I think it’s page three or four or whatever, “Would you like to become a vendor” and you know that lightbulb moment as they call it. I said, ‘Colin that’s it. That’s exactly what you need. You need to go out and meet people.’

I phoned the number in London on the Thursday, then on Monday morning in the Glasgow office I had my chat, and then I was on my pitch on the Monday afternoon. And from that day on, I’ve never really had a bad day.

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To be honest, Big Issue keeps me going. If I did not have Big Issue that would be me stuck in the house again, bored out of my box. So it’s nice to go about and meet people. It’s good for your mental health. It’s good for your own health, too. Getting out in the fresh air. Just meeting people and being nice to them – they’re always nice back.

That’s why I love Big Issue. I don’t think I’ll ever give up. It keeps you ticking over. I get up in the morning and I look forward to getting out. There’s not many people at 66 years of age who want to go to work. It’s a positive outcome every day. You’re not just meeting people but you’re breathing in the fresh air. You’re walking a wee bit more. It’s good for you all around. 

It’s given me that wee jump in the morning. I get up in the morning and I look forward to going out to sell Big Issue. People come up for a bit and I treat everybody the same whether they buy the magazine or they don’t.[Good] mental health is a great thing, isn’t it? 

My body was going down the same as my mental health. Now, I’ve got a wee £20 in my pocket every day, and it buys me my evening meal at nighttime in the supermarket. That’s the great thing about Big Issue also, it helps me financially. Big Issue have been good to me. They gave me a gas and electric voucher and they got me an oil radiator.

There’s not many people out and about in the winter. It’s cold in the winter, I’ve got to be careful not to catch pneumonia or bronchitis. Every winter I’ve got about three jerseys on and my big anorak. I walk around. I get off the bus a couple of stops early just to keep my health. I got a hat from the office with Big Issue written on the front. I wear that on a regular basis.

I just want to wish my customers all a happy, holy and warm Christmas. I like that word warm because it can cover everything. Warmth can cover heating, putting on the fire, or warmth can cover love, or warmth can cover if you’ve got a wee bit of money in the bank. I wish them all a warm Christmas with loved ones. 

Interview: Yolanda Denkmayer

1 Merry Street, Motherwell, UK