Pamela Milac, Marks & Spencer, Union Square, Aberdeen 

Photo: Exposure Photo Agency

 At the moment I like selling Big Issue because I have my son and I can go to my pitch later if my son needs me. It is not like I have to be there for a specific time. I get to be in charge of my own hours. 

I’ve been in Aberdeen around three or four years. It’s a very nice, welcoming city. 

I came to Big Issue when I lost my job and I was really struggling. I hadn’t found any other work. I used to work as a waitress. I did that for about a year. I enjoyed the job and it is something that I would like to do again in the future. 

Now, with the baby and breastfeeding, it’s very difficult because of the hours that you have to work. The flexibility of Big Issue is perfect for me at the moment. 

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One of my family members told me I can start to sell Big Issue with no problem. That’s how I got started. But Big Issue helped me improve my situation. They helped me to make contactless payments. They gave me a phone and a Zettle card reader. 

I use the money I get from Big Issue sales for living. For food and stuff I need for the house and my baby, who is one year old. 

Sometimes when it’s quiet it can be hard to cover the basics. The last few months have been very difficult because of that. People are not buying magazines from me. I have sold the magazine at Christmas and it is different, it is more busy and people are more generous, I hope it will be like that this year too. 

I have a few regular customers who support me but I have lost quite a few – I don’t know where they have gone. 

Aberdeen is quite a small city and you used to see everyone, especially in my spot. But now it’s not the way it used to be. 

It’s very cold selling the magazine in winter! That can be difficult. I do have some customers who bring me hot drinks and things like that to help keep warm. 

Sometimes some of my regular customers do get me things from inside the shop which helps me. Bills are very difficult for me to keep up with. I’m paying small amounts towards my bills when I can. 

My husband used to do Deliveroo and he was on a good wage but he is unable to do that work any more. Bills have gone up too, so I am trying my best to pay them. 

The baby takes up a lot of my time. My plan for 2025 is to look after my baby and hope that it gets busier on my pitch. 

I want to wish everybody a happy Christmas and a nice new year. May all the street magic of Christmas conspire to gladden your hearts and fill every desire. 

Interview: Liam Geraghty

union square shopping centre, Guild Street, Aberdeen, UK