Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
News

‘I'm overwhelmed’: Social media users flood to support struggling mechanic

"It's unbelievable. Every customer I've had today is a brand new customer, I've never seen them before in my life." 

Jim Walsh was struggled through Covid-19 and has been given a boost by his daughter's social media post. Image credit: Harley Walsh / Twitter

Jim Walsh who runs Highmains Garage in East Kilbride has struggled through Covid-19. Image credit: Harley Walsh / Twitter

Never underestimate social media’s power for good. A car mechanic whose garage was on the brink of collapse has had his business saved after being inundated with bookings from kind-hearted Twitter users.

Jim Walsh, 52, from East Kilbride, has been in the trade for 35 years and owns a garage with one full-time employee.

Like many, the pandemic left him struggling for work and he was worried about the future of his business. 

But after daughter Harley’s viral post on Twitter, he told the Big Issue he went from a handful of jobs a week to being “totally full” every day.

Lockdowns have taken income away from hundreds of Big Issue sellers. Support The Big Issue and our vendors by signing up for a subscription.

https://twitter.com/_mermaidharley/status/1357262451708993536?s=20

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

“It’s been like this for months,” Jim said. “I was getting four or five jobs a week and cancellations.” 

“It’s unbelievable. Every customer I’ve had today is a brand new customer, I’ve never seen them before in my life.” 

On Thursday, his daughter Harley posted: “This is my Dad. His car mechanic garage of 35 years is in crisis due to the ongoing pandemic.

“If it keeps going this way, it isn’t likely to survive. He will beat any price you have been quoted. Please retweet and like.” 

https://twitter.com/_mermaidharley/status/1357651917523062787?s=20

Jim said he was “overwhelmed” after continually worrying about the garage’s future, adding he could never have expected the response. 

“It certainly goes a long way to help me out,” he said. “I was getting down and struggling just thinking about work and constantly worrying about what’s happening.” 

He described it as “remarkable” and said customers had come far and wide, from the West end of Glasgow to as far as Manchester. 

“I’m getting a lot of new phone calls, it’s quite confusing actually because there are so many calls coming in at the one time. 

“There’s a lot of younger people. There are people coming from Livingston, people coming from Edinburgh, and they are prepared to come up here.

“I’m 52 years old and I have never felt the way I feel today or yesterday. You know, I don’t know what to say. I really don’t know what to say.”

Get free training, careers advice and access to hundreds of thousands of jobs with The Big Issue’s RORA Jobs & Training

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

READER-SUPPORTED SINCE 1991

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Recommended for you

View all
One mum's months-long ordeal to find out how her son died in a homeless hostel: 'I need answers'
Former Big Issue vendor Richard Sanders
Homelessness

One mum's months-long ordeal to find out how her son died in a homeless hostel: 'I need answers'

DWP job advisers will soon be in GP surgeries and mental health services
two people on chairs having a discussion. a form is in the centre
Department for Work and Pensions

DWP job advisers will soon be in GP surgeries and mental health services

More than £4bn in benefits will go unclaimed in London this year: 'Too many people miss out'
Benefits

More than £4bn in benefits will go unclaimed in London this year: 'Too many people miss out'

Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie: 'It was hard to get artists to take part in Gig for Gaza'
Bobby Gillespie
Music

Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie: 'It was hard to get artists to take part in Gig for Gaza'