A charity based in London, known for its uniform exchange, food bank, and retail shop, has ventured into a new initiative by launching a barbershop for the first time.
The S.M.I.L.E. London and Essex hub in Romford opened its doors to children from underprivileged backgrounds, offering complimentary haircuts to help them return to school with renewed confidence.
The charity is dedicated to assisting families struggling with poverty, homelessness, and various hardships throughout London and Essex. On Thursday, they welcomed 19 boys aged between four and 16 to enjoy their turn in the barber’s chair.
Maria Quaife, the charity’s chief executive, stated, “Many families face significant financial challenges as they prepare for the school year. The cost of boys’ haircuts ranges from £25 to £30 each, and some families have six or seven children, which adds up quickly.”
According to government statistics, the average cost for equipping a child for secondary school is £442, while primary school expenses are around £343.
The Department for Education has noted that reducing uniform expenses is part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which seeks to enhance protections for vulnerable children and increase financial relief for parents.
To aid families with expenses, the family of 13-year-old Mohammed Qasim frequents S.M.I.L.E. regularly. His father, Ishtiaq Khan, who has six children, expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the free haircuts.
Local barbershop trainees from Hairforce1 collaborated with the charity for this initiative. Anderson Boyce, managing director of Hairforce1, remarked, “These young barbers are deeply committed to honing their skills, and opportunities like this allow them to contribute to their community while enhancing their expertise.”
Although this is S.M.I.L.E.’s inaugural children’s barbershop event, Ms. Quaife expressed hope that it will become a recurring service. “It would be wonderful to establish a monthly schedule, enabling families to plan their visits every other month for haircuts. With boys’ hairstyles, a trim is needed every six weeks or so.”
