Telford Hairdresser Provides Free Haircuts Amid Cost of Living Crisis

For a year, a hairdresser has been providing complimentary haircuts, stating his desire to contribute to his local community amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis. Josh Humphries, who conducts periodic free sessions at a Telford community centre, commented, “it’s really important at the moment that people do what they can to help”. His most recent session, held at Arleston community centre during this week’s half term, offered significant relief to individuals for whom a professional haircut would typically be an infrequent indulgence. Tracey Quine, a customer, mentioned that a salon visit typically costs her “quite a lot of money,” making regular appointments unaffordable. She attended Mr. Humphries’ temporary service with one of her sons, who “just needs his hair trimming… so he looks nice for school.” “It costs quite a lot of money when you’ve got two boys and a father who need a haircut every five to six weeks,” she informed BBC Radio Shropshire. Mr. Humphries’ sessions are integrated into the Welcoming Spaces initiative, an effort that gathers residents in various areas of Telford & Wrekin for coffee and provides assistance with matters such as benefits, internet access, and scam prevention. Angela McClements, the local Labour councillor, assists in organizing these events in Arleston, which take place every Tuesday morning. She stated, “I’m absolutely delighted that Josh has decided to give his time for free.” She continued, “We all know how costly it is to have your hair cut, especially when you have a family of children.” Ms. McClements also noted that the hairdresser would “be there every week if he could,” but indicated that the February half-term was anticipated to be his subsequent session. For Mr. Humphries, whose regular workplace is the Black Orchid salon in Shifnal, his motivation is to contribute to the community. He remarked, “Angela sees first-hand the struggles that people have in her role as a councillor and running the community centre.” He added, “So I think it’s really important just to try and create a little bit of positivity in people’s worlds.” He concluded, “I love making people feel the best version of themselves.” Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.