Five years ago, hairdresser Stewart Roberts was visiting a centre for people with drug and alcohol problems, noticing a homeless man, and inspired by someone he’d seen giving makeovers on the street, the following week he decided to take the tools of his trade – his scissors. Word quickly spread and he was asked to take his scissors into shelters in Romford and other areas. Haircuts for the Homeless was born. On this episode he shares his incredible story of how a national charity was born. He is joined by Jackie McColl founder of multiple projects around the Manchester area. 

• How working with those less fortunate than us can be a real antidote to feeling bad
• How homelessness affects a much wider range of people than we might at first realise
• How Haircuts 4 Homeless is about so much more than just cutting hair – it breaks barriers and allows people to connect
• How many homeless people are often not spoken for days at a time
• How working at the homeless centre is often a great place to help those most in need
• How the charity has grown over the last five years
• How volunteering is all about action – and the power of being a nuisance!
• How volunteers also need to be protected so that they are able to do their role effectively
• The importance of communication and how Haircuts 4 Homeless transcends barriers
• How Lena Headey, from Game of Thrones, is now an ambassador for Haircuts 4 Homeless
• The importance of boundaries – even in the charity sector
• The importance of teamwork and different skills that are needed to run a large charity
• How helping others can make you happier and overcome our own personal struggles
• How we shouldn’t attach our happiness to money.

Haircuts 4 Homeless can be contacted via the following links:

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