Donna Llewelyn, Greggs, near Church Street, Cardiff

Photos: Kieran Doe

I am called the Queen of Cardiff and I am very famous! I picked that nickname up from the public because I used to sell friendship bracelets. I love it! It was a joke from my friend that started me selling them. She was sitting on the floor and said to people they were 50p each and they just took off. They’re just plain woollen friendship bracelets but I crack jokes with everybody at the same time as selling them.

I’ve only been selling the magazine for two weeks. I’ve brought the sales up in Cardiff and I’ve done really well! I’ve got gimmicks as well. I say: “I’ve got issues but I’m still smiling!” That helps me sell the magazine to customers – if I’m smiling then so can everyone else. I’ve enjoyed showing people that homeless people aren’t worthless and we can get jobs, even though this is a job made for a homeless person, it shows we’re not lazy and useless. We can make something of ourselves and it’s a step on the ladder.

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I’m related to another Big Issue vendor called Stuart Drucker. He’s uncle to my older boys. He said come in and I gave it a week or two then came in and gave it a go. I’ve got a QR code so people can scan to pay and that works in Cardiff – thanks for trusting me!

I want to say a big thank you to Natalie and Tom in the Big Issue office because I tried selling Big Issue about 10 years ago and I couldn’t get my head around it. I’d get bored and my approach would be: ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do that.’ Now I’m taking a different approach. I’m a joker and so out there and happy so I like to have a laugh and a joke with it.

Cardiff is really bad for homelessness. People have been in homeless hostels here for five, six, seven years. I’m in a hostel but I’m waiting to move to a different one with a ground floor room. The disability is not going to get any better, it’s going to get worse. It’s like living in a zoo. We’re like animals basically. If a zookeeper doesn’t know how to look after an animal properly, how is a zoo going to run? 

The city helped me get married in February because my partner’s grandmother was dying and it was one of her wishes. I got married at the Tabernacle in Cardiff – they give out food to the homeless. They married me for nothing. My partner is also in the hostel. 

The wedding day was fantastic. Blue Banana got my dress for me and Pizza Pilgrim gave me 15 free pizzas. I told you I was famous! They wouldn’t do that for everyone so that’s the rapport I’ve got. 

My favourite bit of the day was dancing with one of my good friends Casper. He is in the trans community and he’s one of the best people I know. I go to the trans marches and the Palestinian marches because we’re all human, aren’t we? They know what it’s like to be singled out and so do we.  

I’m Cardiff born, Cardiff bred, Cardiff until I’m dead. I love Cardiff but, after my partner’s grandmother passed away, once we’re back on our feet we’ve decided we might move out of Cardiff. Just to get back on track properly so we can sort our lives out. We’re more country people. We like getting away and peace and quiet. 

I might not be doing my bracelets because it’s getting hard but I’ve got magazines for all my customers now. Thanks to everyone who has bought a magazine off me!

Interview: Liam Geraghty

Greggs, Saint Mary Street, Cardiff, UK