The Big Issue – August 19, 2019

46 | BIGISSUE.COM 19-25 AUGUST 2019

I was put in care when I was six weeks old.

I had a difficult time at school so left at 16

and joined the fairground. They were my

guardians – I had the time of my life.

I’ve been on the streets and in and out of

prison for many years. I’ve married twice and

have children, but I haven’t seen my family for

years. I’ve just been coping on my own.

I used to sleep in the churchyard across from

the station. There were eight of us sleeping

there. We stuck together and we looked out for

each other – no one else will.

Back in 1992, a filmmaker made a

documentary about me called Praying for Paul.

I was out of control back then. He filmed me

living on the streets. I’m still in touch with

him now. It was a woman called Donna, from

Penge, who gave me a bed for the night off the

back of that. I ended up staying with her for

17 weeks. She was so kind – it came out of the

blue. She helped me get off the streets.

I have bipolar disorder that I take

medication for and I see a mentor. I got out of

prison a year ago and I was scared, but I gave

The Big Issue a try and it has changed me

completely. Selling the magazine and having

a good support network around me, like my

mental health worker, has got me back on track

in a way I never thought I could be.

I was born and bred round here, in a house

nearby. Nowhere is perfect, but there’s a happy

vibe here. I’m in a temporary place now, and

I’m bidding now for a council flat in Lambeth,

which I’m over the moon about. I could apply

for a job as a dustman once I have permanent

accommodation. All I want is a little job and

a place to sleep. It’s hard to get work with a

criminal record.

I was part of a poster series that went up

in the station telling local people’s stories.

Since that went up, it seems to me that a lot

of people in the community are talking to each

other instead of looking at their phones.

Some people have opened up to me about

their own mental health struggles, saying

they can relate.

The people around here are really kind to

me. There’s a local cafe that brings me coffee

every morning and sometimes kind people will

bring me warm food if I’m standing selling the

magazine on a cold day.

For many years I couldn’t talk about the

things that have happened to me, but I want

to share my story now, and help young kids.

I’ve come full circle, but I’m in a different place

now. The local people round here have given

me a chance and I’m not giving up. I don’t want

to be the old Paul anymore, I want to be the

PaulI amnow.

Interview: Hannah Westwater

Photo: Orlando Gili

Oval Underground

Station, Lambeth

7am-10am and 2pm-7pm daily

MY PITCH

PAUL

MILLWALL,

43

The local people

round here

have given me a

chance and I’m

not giving up

THEBIGISSUE

MANIFESTO

A hand up,

not a handout...

Our sellers BUY every copy

of the magazine for £1.25

and sell it for £2.50.

Trade, not aid...

Which is why we

ask you to ALWAYS

take your copy of the

magazine. Our sellers

are working and need

your custom.

Poverty is indiscriminate...

That is why we provide ANYONE

whose life is blighted by poverty

with the opportunity to earn a

LEGITIMATE income.

The right to citizenship...

The Big Issue Foundation,

our charitable arm, helps

sellers tackle social and

financial exclusion.

Prevention...

Big Issue Invest offers backing

and investments to social

enterprises, charities and

businesses which deliver

social value to communities.