Hartlepool barber offering to help get people's lives back on track

A volunteer at a charity is doing free haircuts for those struggling

Author: Karen LiuPublished 10th Apr 2024

A Hartlepool man is hoping people who are in need can get their life back on track with a free haircut.

Callum Horsley is offering to 'freshen up' anyone who is homeless, or struggling, at the Annexe based in the Dyke House area, which is run by the charity Wharton Trust.

He said: "I've been in and out of prison since 2009. I've done about 14 years and I've been a barber within the prison but the last time I was in, I got my level 2 in barbering and when I got it, the Annexe asked 'what would keep me out of prison?' and I said 'I enjoy doing barbering', so they've bought all the equipment.

"I do a couple of haircuts a day for homeless people and just anyone who's struggling really that comes through the door, I'll give them a haircut if they need one. People are over the moon with their haircuts as when they come in, like the homeless, they're not looking their best so I freshen them up.

"They've got better appearances for day-to-day because people judge your appearance first before they judge you as a person don't they? So when you look better, more people will want to interact with you and things. I've been homeless yourself and when you're not looking very good then people don't want to know you."

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