John fills us in on his childhood and what he thinks makes someone a good social entrepreneur

What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?

I wanted to be the best painter in the world.

Who do you most want to inspire?

Anyone. To create a social enterprise, age is not important, background is not an excuse, and race or gender is not relevant. I hope we’ll see more and more skilled people, who are maybe working in a traditional pure profit-orientated job, or who are simply thinking about creating a company, dare to go ahead in a social project. I hope to see actions, concrete results and profitable companies.

What services do you feel are missing in society?

I’m always interested in setting up the missing services in my community. Unfortunately I cannot do 100 things at the same time. Self-help clubs are a good way to share ideas and provide support. I think we also need more services to support families and children of various ages, from toddlers to teenagers. We need things that get people involved in their local communities.

What type of person makes a good social entrepreneur?

A good entrepreneur is someone who sometimes gets it right. It is someone who learns from mistakes and who works hard.

 
Did you always have a social outlook?

No. I worked for various companies to make money to support my family and myself. Then I became a printer, learned the job and when an opportunity to use my skills with a social purpose arose, I jumped on it. I knew how to design and print a magazine, so the Big Issue seemed right for me.

What advice would you give to a future social entrepreneur?

Don’t listen to advice, just try your best.

Describe yourself in three words?

Honestly big mouthed.

What subjects did you like at school?

I didn’t go to school regularly. I learned to read when I was 16 years old, in prison. From there I discovered poetry, politics, history, art. They became my favourite subjects.