Viv came to the UK from Norway in 1978. She married and had two children. All was fine, but then, 21 years into her marriage, she split with her husband and moved out of the family home, sleeping on sofas at friends’ houses.
Little did she know it but she was only at the top of a downward spiral and she ended up on the street begging. For two years she slept under Blackfriars Bridge.
On the street Viv started knitting. At first she did it to keep her hands warm and it gave her a sense of purpose. She would knit things for people she met who gave her various ‘knitting challenges’ – she felt she was giving something back.
She met a new partner who introduced her to The Big Issue and this gave her a real sense of pride. It was a job, she was appreciated for it and this increased her self esteem. Earning her own money was key.
Through her own hard work, and the support of the Big Issue Foundation, she now has somewhere to call home and has taken great steps in her journey away from homelessness.
The Big Issue Foundation helps vendors with small grants, vital advice and contacts to assist them in their efforts to move away from the streets.
Viv is now part of the Big Issue Foundation’s corporate engagement project with law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. She works there one day a week selling The Big Issue magazine in the canteen, forging links and acting as a great advocate for the cause.
She still knits for various people and is part of the workforce of Unseen Tours, a pilot scheme helping homeless people to find sustainable work as tour guides on the streets where they once lived.
Losing your home and your family can be devastating, but if you have a sense of purpose and determination, you can truly turn your life around.