Florina, M&S, Dunblane

Photo: Ann Shaw

Florina was put forward for My Pitch by her customer Ann, who said: “Florina’s cheerful smile always greets us as she stands outside the M&S supermarket in Dunblane. She is always well wrapped up against the challenging Scottish weather.” 

I think I’ve been in Dunblane for about two years but I used to sell the magazine in Alexandria before the pandemic. I started selling it because it helps me with money to survive, to buy food and my son’s school lunch. I don’t have another job at the moment and I’m looking for one. I keep going to the Jobcentre every week to search for a job. So if I go to sell Big Issue it helps me with money because I don’t have anywhere to go and I don’t know what to do to make some money to survive.

I would like to work in a supermarket like Marks & Spencer or Asda, or a cleaning job or to work in beauty. I’d like to work in anything. 

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

The staff here at Marks & Spencer are very kind. They always come outside and speak to me and ask me how I am when it is cold, and the managers give me coffee. Lots of customers give me sandwiches to eat, coffee, tea. Everyone there is so good. They come outside and chat with me and I have known many of them for a long time now. They ask me about my situation, and I tell them that I’m searching for a job and I’m struggling at the moment, that’s why I’m coming here so I can work out something. 

It’s very hard. My situation makes me go there so I can get money for food and pay my gas, my electric, my bills. Big Issue offers vouchers for energy bills so I need to go and get some. Sometimes I will buy hand warmers and hold them in my hands and I’ve had a couple of customers give me gloves. I had a customer yesterday who got me a sandwich, orange juice and some apples. She said, “I cannot give much for you but this is what I can do.” I’ve got a friend and when she went inside and got chocolate she came out and gave half to me. 

My son is eight years old now and in the future I want him to go to school every day and learn good things. I want him to become something. I want to help him do that. When I’m not selling Big Issue or looking for a job I spend time with him. I go with him outside to the park and he likes to play football. Sometimes we go to eat at McDonald’s. Or we go to see the ducks and give them some bread. 

I just want to thank everyone in Dunblane that has been there for me; they are very nice to me. I want to thank everyone there. I really appreciate it. I want to thank Marks & Spencer for letting me stand outside there. I just want to say thank you so much to everyone.  

For me it is important to be in this place. I’m so comfortable to be there. I’m still happy. The way they look at me, the way they say, “Hi, good morning”. They laugh with me. I always smile when I’m there. I’m always happy when I’m there. Obviously it helps me, I can’t say it doesn’t help me. It helps me a lot. When I wake up in the morning, I never say I feel like I don’t want to go. I always say I want to go because I feel so good to be there. 

Interview: Liam Geraghty

M&S Simply Food, Stirling Road, Dunblane, UK