Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
A cut above: Salon gives primary pupils free appointments
A HAIRDRESSERS is making sure primary school kids are looking the part ahead of their long-awaited return to school.
Ashley Carroll and Nicola Rooney, of Salon Fierce in Polepark, are offering free haircuts to pupils who are finally heading back to the classroom in August after five months at home.
Ashley said: “This has been such a hard few months for everyone and we were speaking about how important is it all the children have a nice fresh cut for starting primary school again.
“We know it has been a difficult time for many Dundee families and we wanted to find some way to do our bit. We thought this was a great way of helping out both financially and to do something nice for families.
“There will have been a lot of kids who didn’t have a haircut throughout lockdown, and we reckoned if we could help to tidy them up before they go back to school that was something practical we could do to help.
“So, we’ll work the Sunday before the schools start – but for free.”
The gesture comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced schools will reopen from Tuesday, August 11.
Ms Sturgeon also said she expected all pupils to be back fulltime from August 18 at the latest.
Every school will have to carry out a risk assessment and put in place enhanced hygiene and cleaning arrangements. Primary pupils will not have to physically distance from each other, but as a precaution secondary schools will be advised to take steps to encourage distancing.
School staff will need to physically distance from each other and, if possible, from pupils who are not part of the same household.
A surveillance programme is also being developed for schools for the purpose of carrying out regular testing.
Hairdresser Ashley says she expects to be busy on the day before the big return and has treats planned for her clients.
She added: “Kids don’t have to social distance, so this will be such a good happy trip for them as well.
“We will have juice, cupcakes and of course glitter for all the girls. We will think of something for the boys too.”
Ashley said she’s already had a fantastic response to the idea and also offers of help with donations of items.
She said: “We have received so many positive responses. I think we will be working all day to fit everyone in.
“If you want a slot for your kid please leave a comment on our Facebook page and by the weekend we will confirm times with you and we can’t wait to see you all.”
The salon will be open from 10am-1pm on Sunday, August 9 and free haircuts will be available to children aged four to 11-years -old.