The charity has set up a Crowd Funder page looking to support the printing costs of the book – 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go back to the charity.
The x120 page, 320mm x 240mm, Black and white image book, with images by hair and beauty photographer Jack Eames, came about through session hairstylist and Haircuts4Homeless (H4H) volunteer Leigh Keates: “I first pitched the book concept to Stewart and Jack after a touching encounter whilst volunteering for H4H. Several very close-to-home conversations with the guests had triggered an awakening moment for me, forcing me to realise that I too, had stigmas and stereotypes attached to my understanding of homelessness. This gave me a burning desire to provoke the same conclusion in others.”
“This is not just a book, this is not just a haircut, this is a community. A community that creates a space for wellbeing and acceptance and – even if it is temporary – it allows our guests some respite and an opportunity to escape their difficult circumstances.” Stewart Roberts, founder H4H
Almost 100,000 households reported as homeless at the start of 2021
“Homelessness is at crisis point in the UK and although we are aware this book is not going to solve the issues, we do believe we can contribute to making a small difference to the lives of these people. But we need your help, so please buy a copy of the book to help maintain our ability to fund our services.” Stewart Roberts, founder Haircuts4Homeless
“It’s more than just a haircut”
Haircuts are an unimaginable luxury for homeless people: we’ve had guests that are so grateful that they have been able to get a haircut for a job interview, to visit their children and feel more confident in many other situations that most of us are privileged enough to take for granted.
It’s uplifting to watch the positive change throughout a Haircuts4Homeless session. Before your eyes, you witness a person’s growth in confidence – not only a physical change in posture and a beaming smile but also how they communicate and connect and eventually volunteer their story to a non-judgmental pair of ears. This growth in confidence plays a vital role in combatting feelings vulnerability and isolation.
67% of people agree that a haircut can improve their mental health.
We are doing this for social change and empowerment to encourage a shift in the perception of homeless people. By using the imagery and words that we have captured from guests at centres around the UK, we present to you this thought-provoking book, to humanise these individuals that are often wrongly stereotyped and marginalised by society, defined solely as ‘homeless’, a homogenous commodity with no thought as to a past or a story.
We invite you to join us on a journey, not change those that are homelessness but to change those that are not: let’s make the invisible visible and spare a thought without judgement that every human being deserves the right to human connection, touch and communication, critical elements in mental health and general well-being.
It’s more than just a haircut!
To pre buy your copy of Hear Me, See Me, go to:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/haircuts4homeless
100% of Funds will be used to continue H4H vital services, nationwide.
