REDDITCH’S first TLC ‘haircuts for those in need’ day has been hailed a resounding success after the first customers were given a moral-boosting hairdo.
The brainchild of Zoe Gardner of Cutting Edge in Church Hill, who was inspired after seeing a video of the scheme in operation in the US, the launch saw three customers take advantage of the scheme designed to help people get back on their feet again.
“The day lifted all of us because we could see how it lifted the customers,” said Zoe.
“A lady who came was really embarrassed about being there, she’d been through a really hard time, but we made her feel comfortable and she soon relaxed and she told me she’ll be back as a paying customer once her life picks up,” said Zoe.
“Her son had never had his hair cut at a barbers before and you could see the transformation in him,” she added.
“I told my mum all about it in the evening and she was in tears at the thought of it.”
The woman who’d had her hair cut said: “When you are on benefits you can’t afford to have your hair done, it was really nice and the girls at the salon were lovely.”
The aim of TLC – Tender Loving Cuts – is to help people going through hard times to get back on their feet, and encourage them to re-build their lives.
It is hope the scheme, which is run through Redditch Town Hall where all the candidates are vetted to ensure they are genuine, will spread across the town.
Redditch council leader Councillor Bill Harnett said: “It’s a big step to walk through that door and there were a number of people who dropped out but for me the staff did more than cut people’s hair they built up their confidence too and I have nothing but praise for this initiative – it’s Redditch at its best.”
