Crimpers team up to help homeless get head start
TWO East End barbers have been giving up their time every week to give homeless people a free haircut.
The initiative by the Homeless Barbers, also known as Dave Mitchell and Steven Thompson, started when they were at college last year.
The pair, who are both 36, were told by their lecturer at Glasgow City College to get some cutting time to practise their skills – and they decided to offer haircuts to the city’s homeless.
Dave, who is from Easterhouse, said: “Now we don’t need cutting time, we do this every week.
“It’s really good cutting these guys hair and showing them the final product.”
He added: “I recently cut a Romanian boy’s hair. He hadn’t had his hair cut in about six months so I put a nice fade in.
“The guy nearly burst out crying as he was going for a job interview that day.
“That’s the whole thing about it. It is the look good, feel good factor and that is the benefit we get from it.”
He continued: “Steven was homeless at one point and staying in a hostel, so he knows the hardships of it. When you are homeless £10 for a haircut is not on a list of priorities.”
Dave and Steven, who is from Bridgeton, visit The Salvation Army and Trotters drop-in centre on West Campbell Street every Friday to offer their service to homeless people.
The initiative is a huge hit and they are hoping to expand the service further.
The barbers are now in discus- sions with other charities including Glasgow City Mission and Huntershill Court Lifehouse to expand.
But they are appealing to other barbers who are able to donate kit which they can use for their initiative.
Dave, who works in Cranhill Barber Shop, said: “We want to try and take this on the road, and hopefully people will come and join.
“This is a small organisation and we want to take it bigger.”
He added: “We hope other barbers will read the story and donate some kit to us. Old clippers, scissors or combs so we can have separate kits to do this type of work.
“Right now, we are using our own stuff which is expensive to replace if it goes.”
Dave also appealed for anyone who can offer their skills to get in touch. He said: “I’d love to take on a hairdresser or beautician. I think with a skill like this, people should volunteer at least once a year.”
To get in touch with Dave, contact 07464 087080.