Last week I blogged about going to the Big Issue’s 21st birthday party and the inspiring story of Joel, a vendor-turned-Commonwealth Games athlete. Well, Andr’ Rostant, one of the Big Issue’s vendor, has written for the magazine about the evening. It’s worth a read
Last week I blogged about going to the Big Issue’s 21st birthday party and the inspiring story of Joel, a vendor-turned-Commonwealth Games athlete. Well, André Rostant (pictured below left, with Joel), one of the Big Issue’s vendors, has written for the magazine about the evening. It’s worth a read:
‘Glowsticks have always seemed slightly dubious to me: they smack of a conspiracy to dispose of radioactive waste by distributing it to unwitting parade and festival goers. I had certainly never associated glowsticks with the board game Monopoly until Elliot – a Big Issue vendor from Birmingham – used two to symbolise a journey that had brought him, myself, a number of other Big Issue vendors, workers, supporters and prospective supporters to the elegant Institute of Contemporary Arts, sandwiched between the palaces, mansions and clubs of Pall Mall (£160 on the Monopoly board) and St James’ Park (rent free to a few canny, well hidden rough sleepers).
‘The occasion was “Real Lives, Real Journeys” – a reflection on what can be achieved when The Big Issue Foundation works alongside and in support of vendors and a call to arms for those in a position to materially contribute to this work. The event – sponsored by Banham and Women of the Year Foundation – formed part of The Big Issue’s 21st birthday celebrations although – not, perhaps, as pretty as other debutantes, rather than being presented at court, The Big Issue had to hire its own (mercifully, discounted) venue to celebrate coming of age.‘
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It continues here. And – as it says towards the bottom – a friend and I are indeed planning to do the Big Issue’s fundraising Night Walk soon. I’ll be after you for money!
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