John Bird speaks out against poverty

John Bird, co-founder of the Big Issue, was the keynote speaker at the Emmaus UK Federation’s annual Assembly. Around 190 delegates from around the Emmaus UK Federation listened to John Bird outline his own personal experiences of poverty and homelessness .

John talked of growing up in a slum in London, ‘My bed was two armchairs pushed together which separated as the night went on. We lived surrounded by domestic violence and drunkness… At the age of 10 I lived a life of shop-lifting, house-breaking, fighting and biting. I really was in trouble.’

John told his audience, ‘We have to break the mind-forged manacles of poverty. It’s time the homeless were given a chance to help the homeless.’

John spoke about the Big Issue and the importance of giving people work. He warned against the perils of the benefit trap saying, ‘If you take from people the need to find a way to work for themselves you destroy the opportunity for them of gaining dignity.’

He concluded by praising the work of Emmaus, saying ‘If you go to Emmaus you see industry, dignity and opportunity.’

Published on 11th September, 2009

"My door is always open. I’ll never go back to drinking now, I’ve got too many friends."