Haircuts4Homeless, the charity founded by hairdresser Stewart Roberts, that creates space and
acceptance for homeless people via a haircut, announces the launch of ‘HEAR ME, SEE ME’, a
publication that aims to humanise the face of homelessness by challenging stigmas and stereotypes
via honest, thought-provoking imagery and words to acknowledge that the smallest of actions can
have the greatest effect.

Crowdfunder Page

The charity has set up a Crowdfunder 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.

Image Book

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.”

A Community

“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.

Crisis Point

“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.

Social Change and Empowerment

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.

Human Connection

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! Co-author biographies Stewart Roberts – Founder of Haircuts4Homeless.

Volunteering

Back in November 2014, Stewart, now 15 years sober, was volunteering for the Salvation Army and
decided to bring his scissors along. Afterwards, he posted some photos on Facebook and received
an overwhelming response. Just like that, Haircuts4Homeless was born. Today Haircuts4Homeless
is a registered charity with 68 projects across the UK & Ireland with 600 volunteer hairdressers and has given over 40,000 haircuts.

Stories

To help get some of these incredible stories heard Stewart began his podcast ‘Hear Me, See Me’
available through Acast and on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and Amazon Music.
Guests have included volunteers, centre leaders, victims of domestic abuse as well as high-profile
guests including Game of Thrones star and H4H ambassador Lena Headey, the Duchess of York,
Meg Mathews and Bella Freud.

Support

Haircuts4Homeless has huge support from some of the biggest names in the industry including
L’Oreal PRO, top session hairdressers like Sam McKnight, beauty editors such as Lisa Oxenham
of Marie Claire & Maxine Leonard of Beauty Papers, and full backing from the British Beauty Council and Brandstand Communications who currently manage communications for the charity.

Jack Eames – Photographer

Jack has been photographing hair in the beauty industry for the past ten years, working with many
global brands across many different countries.
“Haircuts 4 Homeless exercises some of my origins in social commentary, beauty and proximity,
while giving something back. Being part of a community that has made and will continue to make
change helps me feel alive and connected with what really matters.”

 

Leigh Keates – Session Stylist

Leigh Keates is a London-based hairstylist contributing to publications including Vogue UK, ELLE
France, Wonderland, L’Officiel, Harper’s Bazaar and Hunger Magazine. Leigh’s talents have made
him a favourite with celebrity clients such as Felicity Jones, Florence Welch, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reneé Zellweger, Jessica Chastain, Helena Bonham Carter and Dakota Johnson.

To pre buy your copy of Hear Me, See Me, go to: Crowdfunder here.