Jeff Knight, a cherished Big Issue seller of Stokes Croft & the Clifton Triangle, and heart warmer of Bristol is facing deportation.

Jeff is known for bringing smiles across people’s faces even on the worst of days. He has been a special part of the city for twenty years.

These are just a handful of what locals had to say:

“I fell over pretty bad once and smashed my head hard on the pavement. Jeff ran across the road and was the first to help me up. Despite a smashed tooth and broken nose, I was still smiling afterwards. An absolute gem of a human being.”

“Jeff is a Bristol National Treasure, for as long as I remember living in Bristol, his fist bumps have cheered me up on a rough day.”

“He treats everyone equally and that’s always with good vibes and kindness. Even on his down days, he’s such a top bloke, I hope he stays here.”

“One day I was really upset about a bad break up and I had lost my wallet. I was looking very glum, it was one of the lowest moments of my life and he helped me. Jeff said “come ‘ere then child”, brought me to the best shop, and got ME a pack of ten cigarettes and a beer to cheer me up. It was the single kindest act I have ever received.”

We, the people of Bristol, have been touched by Jeff’s kindness and resist the current threat that is his deportation back to Jamaica.

People are encouraged to print out character references to give to Jeff personally, in a bid to help this cause.

Writing to your local MP is also always useful - you can quickly do it here at Write to your MP