Meet Our Vendors

‘I’ve been through a lot. The big issue has helped me build my self-esteem’

Cindy Higgins
Age: 29
Pitch: City Centre, Swansea, & Mumbles

It was when I started having a few problems living back in England that I made the decision to come to Wales with my husband. But in the end the move meant that we ended up becoming homeless. This all happened quite recently. I’ve been selling The Big Issue since last November.

Everyone who’s bought the magazine from me has been fantastic, the people have been so friendly and Swansea is a lovely place. Now I’ve got used to it I wouldn’t want to go back to England, I love it here.

Most people I speak to understand how it helps the homeless and how it can make people find somewhere to live again. Being homeless does open your eyes to a lot of situations that you didn’t think were possible. It’s true that it could happen to anybody.

Before I became homeless I was a carer for the elderly. I found the work really rewarding and a good thing to do but it was also difficult because once you become attached to someone you were looking after it was harder to accept when they died.

I would consider care work again but I don’t think I could go back to working with people who had very serious conditions.
Once I have got settled I’d like to go to college and learn a trade, maybe hairdressing. I have quite an artistic side and I like the idea of running my own business one day.

I also make my own greetings cards; if I found a course in college that allowed me to do something like that I’d be happy. Arts and crafts are definitely a big passion in my life and I think that if anyone has a chance to excel at something they love then they should devote more time to it.

There was a time after Christmas when I think selling The Big Issue was quite difficult because maybe everyone had to cut back on what they were spending. But it’s definitely picking up again.

Working for The Big Issue has given me a lot of confidence. Before I started selling I’d been through a lot of things personally and I had taken quite a knock. It’s helped me build my self-esteem and given me the chance to meet new people and earn some money.

I never thought I’d end up selling The Big Issue but I’m glad it’s there.

Cindy was talking to Alex Donohue.
Photo: Ken Dickinson