Rodney Lyall, Southbourne Grove Post Office, Bournemouth: ‘Selling the Big Issue saved my life’

Before I sold Big Issue, my life was in turmoil. I was on the streets for 16 years. I got sent into a mental institution and I went to prison. I was in children’s homes from the age of three till I was nine, then I was fostered. So trauma was there. Then I was kicked out of my foster parents’ house when I was 17. It is my doing, being on the streets, but it’s also not. I’ve got to take responsibility.  

I started taking drugs when I was 17. I took speed, acid, ecstasy. And I took crack 17 years ago for a year. I spent all my savings. I thought I’d get back to doing Big Issue because that helps me to stay clean. I’ve been off drugs 16 years because of Big Issue. I’d like us to work towards having a drug-free society.

Big Issue overall saved my life. It’s helped me to get off the streets and live a productive life. I can’t praise Big Issue enough.

I have spent most of my time in Bournemouth. I spent a little time in Newcastle; the southerners have adopted me! Somebody in Bournemouth suggested I go and do Big Issue as an extra income. And I said: “What a good idea.” 

The Big Issue team has been there for me emotionally. Financially. With vouchers, and the income from the customers. It helped me to get a flat.

I’ve got schizophrenia and it’s very hard. I learned I had it when I was 42. I’m 56 now. I didn’t know about it first when I was on the streets. It was driving me mad. And Big Issue got me in touch with a community psychiatric nurse and she followed up on me. 

It’s very important to chat with your customers. You can tell them where you’re at and what you’ve been doing and what your past was and what your future is going to hold for you. Because the customers want to engage with people and want to know where people are at.

Somebody once gave me £60 and they didn’t take the magazine. But I try and push the magazine on the people. Because that’s what I’m here for. It gives me a purpose when I sell the magazine. 

You buy the magazine for £2.50 and sell it for £5. And it works. It helps me to pay my rent. I’m on housing benefit, I need a top-up and it helps me pay my top-up.

Wearing the Big Issue tabard makes us feel proud. It’s a proud organisation. Customers are proud of it and I’m proud of it. It’s a good invention. 

My goal is to have a settled life, free of schizophrenia, free of medication. But when I get out there, I don’t think of that. I don’t think of medication or life going bad. I don’t think like that when I’m doing Big Issue. 

Customers subscribing to get the magazine from me helps a great deal. Because, with having schizophrenia, it’s hard to get out there and do things. It’s hard to travel to the pitch. I travel to Southbourne every day. Most days anyway. It’s good to have a subscriber because it helps me to have a guaranteed income. 

I read the magazine every week. I like the My Pitch page. People have forgotten what things are important. Constantly on their phones, watching TV, looking at themselves in the mirror. But what’s important is Big Issue and the vendors.

Interview and photos: Juliette Pedram

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14 Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth, UK