Haircuts4Homeless is a community-based charity set up by Stewart Roberts in 2014, where hairdressers donate their time and skill sets to give rough sleepers a confidence-boosting salon experience including wash, cut and styling. Roberts was first inspired by Mark Bustos, a hairdresser who spent his only day off wandering the streets of New York giving homeless people haircuts they couldn’t otherwise afford. Moved by this simple act of kindness Roberts decided to start a charity with a similar sentiment; a fresh haircut to build the self-worth of those who don’t have access to grooming tools or facilities, and a kind human touch for those who have been deprived of everything.

For anyone who has been made to feel invisible, it is much more than a haircut, it is a symbol of love, compassion and unity. Showing those who are more vulnerable that people care about them and want to do their part to support them, especially during a time of uncertainty and anxiety like we find ourselves in now, is beautiful to see but also integral to a healthy society. In collaboration with Beauty Papers who will donate £1 for every issue sold, Simon Emmett directed a short film about the profound work Haircuts4Homeless do.

Contact Haircuts4Homeless here if you’re interested in getting involved, and click here to donate directly.