Haircuts for the Homeless in NOVAS’ McGarry House
Haircuts 4 Homeless is an Irish and UK charity that provides haircuts for people experiencing homelessness. Until recently the only initiative in the Republic of Ireland was based in Dublin but in May, the augural Limerick event took place in NOVAS’ McGarry House.
Following a recent feature on RTE news on the Dublin service, a number of kind-hearted Limerick-based hairdressers and barbers contacted the head of the Dublin project, Siobhan Laffan, offering their services. She was overwhelmed by the offers from Limerick hairdressers and contacted NOVAS to support the establishment of a service in the city.
NOVAS’ Una Burns said the organisation ‘was very eager to facilitate the development of the initiative in Limerick as it was such a generous offer and something clients would love.’ She went on to state that over 30 homeless people availed of the offer last Monday and ‘clients, especially the women, looked and felt great after such beautiful styling. They never get the opportunity to have a salon experience, but that’s exactly what Haircuts 4 Homeless gave them on Monday. It was a fantastic boost to their confidence and a lovely day.’
Siobhan, who set up the service in Dublin said it’s all about ‘making them feel good and giving them a boost’, which it did in abundance.
Tyrone Franklin from New York Barbers, Dearbhaile Ni Chrothuir from Obsessed Hair and Make Up, Trevor Anthony and Maurice Brimingham from Trevor’s Style Studio, Shonagh Griffin from Guys N’ Dolls, Jean Harty from Vintage Barber Shop and Nikki Hall from Retro Barbers all offered their time and skills to this new initiative, as well as three hairdressers from Dublin.
The project will run on the first Monday of every month in NOVAS’ McGarry House from 10am. Anyone in the city who is experiencing homelessness is welcome to come along.