“I’d become like a local landmark on my pitch. There is the two fat ladies statue and then I’m around the corner, Jane the Big Issue vendor.
“I’ve even had people thank me for being here. There was an elderly gentleman I knew and I didn’t realise his family didn’t live around here, when he died his children came to thank me because I was apparently the only contact he had and I made such a difference to his life.
“People don’t realise what isolation can be like, I did because I had to for so many years because of my accident. It was a responsibility to me and people tend to veer away from responsibility. Isolation is partly why I still sell the magazine because it helps me and it helps others too – I’m always there for a chat and anybody who is not even buying the issue, I am there to speak to them too.”
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The loss of that vital interaction with customers has been one of the main misses for Jane during lockdown.
She has only had limited contact with her regular supporters, occasionally bumping into them in the brief times she has been able to get out of the house. One regular even chased her down the road to give her some money to tide her over while being unable to sell the magazine.
“People are really lovely and I miss them,” she told The Big Issue. “I just worry that I’ve lost many of them to this virus, especially because a lot of my customers are elderly.
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“The bottom fell out of my world when I found out that I couldn’t sell the magazine anymore, I had a sick lurch in my stomach. I didn’t know what to do. I’ve been finding it hard not selling.
“I miss the routine of getting up the most as well as going outside to meet customers and earning a living. It’s the whole thing. Having a purpose in life and then to be there in the fresh air. I’m privileged to be working in that environment. To be in the situation that I am in, to enjoy your job, there aren’t many people who can say that. I miss the independence as well.”
If you have a message for Jane or your local vendor, get in touch with The Big Issue at editorial@bigissue.com. The Big Issue is continuing to print messages between readers and vendors and vice versa in the magazine as well as on our brand-new podcast.
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You can keep us going by subscribing to the magazine to receive it every week directly to your door or device. Head to bigissue.com/subscribe for more details.
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You can also get a copy in stores for the first time. Head to Morrisons, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, McColl’s, Co-op, Asda or WH Smith to grab the latest issue.
