Giving as good as you get: hairdressing charity initiatives

There's a lot of humanity in hairdressing and many charities are reaping the benefits as Donna Chapman discovers

The UK hair industry is a big-hearted one, whether it involves helping individuals in crisis, supporting local good causes or sponsorship for Comic Relief. From one-off acts of altruism to ongoing projects raising millions of pounds in donations, it all has the potential to transform the lives of those in need.

Charitable giving is good for business too, and not solely in terms of tax relief. Showing a caring side to a commercial enterprise is yet another way to inspire loyalty and foster the feel-good factor. Everyone involved in acts of charity, staff, salon partners, customers and clients, benefit on an emotional level.

Some of the industry's leading hairdressers and companies have established their own charitable foundations, setting themselves ambitious targets in the process. Others have aligned themselves with national and international causes. In what are austere times for many, the hairdressing community has embraced social responsibility and the spirit of giving on a grand scale. Here are some of the industry's most impressive initiatives...


Aveda Earth Month

Each year at Aveda, April is Earth Month. Aveda professionals in more than 30 countries have collectively raised more than $26m to help support organisations directly affecting environmental change. Since 2007, $20m of this amount has been earmarked for water-related causes. This year as a world first, the company co-ordinated a 24-hour global Cut-A-Thon on Earth Day (22 April) with a target figure of $5m and ambitions of setting a Guinness World Record for the 'most money raised for a charity by haircuts in a 24-hour period'.

From Tokyo, to Sydney, London to New York, Moscow to Minneapolis, stylists from around the globe gifted eight hours of their time to offer 'Appointments for the Earth' in return for donations. The Aveda Institute London hosted an Earth Day Salon Takeover with the funds raised donated to WaterAid, the UK-based charity providing clean water and sanitation to some of the world's poorest communities - a charity partnership that Aveda has now been championing for four years.

"Social responsibility has been a cornerstone of the Aveda ethos since the brand's founding in 1978. Aveda professionals are living proof that beauty and environment are inextricably connected - their commitment to Earth Month is truly remarkable."

Darren Potter, Aveda general manager    

www.wateraid.org

The HAIRraising appeal

Founded in 2010 by John Frieda and leading lights of the hairdressing world, the HAIRraising appeal asks the hairdressing industry to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. Initially launched to raise £1m towards new operating theatres, with this first milestone achieved the appeal continues with the aim of raising a further £1m towards a new respiratory unit. From black-tie dinners to cycle rides, quiz nights to cut-a-thons and sponsored head-shaves the support across the hair community has been phenomenal.

"I'm thrilled to be working with the charity once again and I am so proud of what the HAIRraising appeal has achieved so far. I've seen the hairdressing industry come together in the most inspirational manner to raise funds in so many different, creative and intelligent ways. The money we've raised has helped fund important new operating theatres at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which have made a significant difference to many children and their families."

John Frieda, founder

www.gosh.org

Toni & Guy Charitable Foundation

Established in 2003 by Toni and Pauline Mascolo, the Toni & Guy Charitable Foundation supports a number of deserving causes including the Variety Club. To date £700,000 has been raised to fund the renovation of the Toni & Guy Ward in the Variety Club Children's Hospital at King's College Hospital, London.

The children in the ward can enjoy spacious and colourful rooms full of toys, while the medical team provides first-class specialist treatment using the most up-to-date equipment. The foundation is only able to support such worthy causes through the fundraising efforts and generous donations of Toni & Guy and essensuals salon staff and clients, business contacts, suppliers and the general public.

"I think working with a charity has a lot of benefits for all involved. It's an opportunity for a successful company to give something back, and a chance to work with all the team on a different level. It can be great fun, everyone has an input and sometimes the most surprising people shine out. Clients are always really supportive as well." 

Brenda Mail, deputy to the CEO and foundation trustee

www.toniandguy.com

Alternative Hair Show

In 1983, Tony and Maggie Rizzo tragically lost their two year old son, Valentino, to leukaemia. They decided to hit back at this cruel disease by enlisting the services of their many worldwide friends in hairdressing for an entirely new and audacious charity fundraising event.

Staged at London's Camden Theatre that October, the Alternative Hair Show (AHS) was an immediate sensation setting a precedent that has since become the stuff of legends. The flagship London AHS, now in its 30th year, is staged at the Royal Albert Hall and has been the blueprint for similar extravaganzas across the world. Proceeds from these events - in excess of £8.7m - has been donated to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, the UK's leading blood cancer research charity, and to leukaemia charities in the host countries.

The Alternative Hair Charitable Foundation was established in January 2012, with the declared aim of supporting the outstanding work of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in making a tangible difference to the outlook for those afflicted. The foundation is also working with Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital to extend the benefits of research to more children, and with other organisations around the world.  "Fighting leukaemia is our mission. We will do everything we can to hasten the day when ALL children survive."

Tony and Maggie Rizzo, trustees, Alternative Hair Charitable Foundation

www.alternativehair.org

Wella Professionals - UNICEF Making Waves

Wella Professionals has forged a global partnership with UNICEF, the world's leading children's organisation. The long-term fundraising programme in place across the globe aims to transform the lives of vulnerable young people in emerging countries, including Brazil and Romania, through hairdressing education, life skills and mentoring.

To date, more than £680,000 has been raised to help recipients in the cities of Recife and Belém develop valuable hairdressing skills to give them more opportunities in life. It's the first year the UK has taken part and the contest to be among two hairdressers chosen for a two-week mentoring trip to Brazil in September has galvanised Wella salon stylists across the country. The level and amount of entries has far exceeded expectations with the judging taking place this Summer.

"We're thrilled that Wella UK and Ireland are supporting Making Waves with UNICEF. We hope this is the first of many waves that Wella Professionals, UNICEF and the hairdressing community in the UK and Ireland can make, in improving the lives of vulnerable young people."



Daniel Minney, managing director, Wella UK and Ireland

www.wella.unicef.org.uk



The Hair & Beauty Benevolent

The Hair & Beauty Benevolent (HABB) is the official industry charity dedicated to helping hair and beauty professionals facing difficulties in life. For more than 150 years, HABB has provided financial support and funding to individuals and their families facing illness, bereavement or financial hardship.

This is only possible because of the generous donations of industry colleagues ranging from stand-alone salons to major corporations. HABB receives more than 200 new applications for assistance each year, donating approximately £150,000 annually. This can take the form of regular payments and monthly allowances, holiday money, birthday and Christmas presents, whatever it takes to keep families together and finances on track.

The Benevolent organises a calendar of high-profile fundraising events and also receives massive support from its sponsors - a who's who of the hair and beauty industry's major players from magazines to manufacturers - and from salons contributing amounts varying from £50 to £5,000. The committee is made up of volunteers totally dedicated to raising the profile of HABB and getting the word across to the widest audience possible.

www.habb.org

L'Oreal Professionnel Hairdressers Against AIDS

In 2005, L'Oréal and UNESCO joined forces in the battle against AIDS through an initiative called Hairdressers Against AIDS. The programme aims to highlight HIV and AIDS to the hairdressing community around the world, raising awareness of a virus that has killed millions of men, women and children and continues to cause pain, suffering and death worldwide.

The L'Oréal Professional Products Division is dedicated to keeping the fight against HIV and AIDS front of mind through simple actions like wearing red ribbons at social events throughout the year and taking part in activities like World AIDS Day on the 1 December.

Present in 40 countries, and part of the L'Oréal Corporate Foundation, Hairdressers Against AIDS has captured the imagination of hairdressers worldwide with 1.5 million hairdressers involved with the campaign messages. In the UK, hairdressers representing L'Oréal's brands have been supportive in wearing the Red Ribbon to keep the voice of HIV and AIDS alive in the UK. Thousands of pounds has been raised for charities like the National AIDS Trust, the Children with AIDS Charity, and the Terence Higgins Trust.

Fundraising For A Multiplicity Of Charities

Goldwell and KMS

Goldwell chooses a different local charity to support each year. The current recipient is the Clement James Centre (CJC) based in Notting Dale, North Kensington. The charity shares many of the haircare brand's parent company Kao's aims and values, in particular those associated with 'enriching lives'. CJC provides programmes that address issues surrounding under-achievement and social exclusion. It helps those children, young people and adults most at risk of failing, due to economic, social, cultural and linguistic disadvantage, to meet their potential, enabling them to progress into further education or employment.

Meanwhile, sister brand KMS California is currently working with MenCap to raise £20,000 over 12 months for the charity, working in partnership with KMS salon stockists to achieve this goal. It'll also be sponsoring the Little Noise Sessions, a series of gigs featuring pop royalty during November. MenCap - the voice of learning disability - works in partnership with people with a learning disability enabling them to live life as they choose. There are many ways in which KMS employees and salon stockists get involved - from the Employ Me scheme offering work placements to people with learning disabilities, to fundraising activities.

www.clementjames.org

www.mencap.org.uk





Paul Mitchell

Since 1980, Paul Mitchell in the US has an incredible track record of charitable giving.

It's a company that has fed thousands of starving children, campaigned for equal rights and helped preserve natural resources. Last year, they joined forces with Cruelty Free International (CFI), campaigners for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics, assisting the cause by donating a percentage of the proceeds from limited edition Bunny Bonus Bags. Within UK operations the same credentials and ethics apply. They focused on supporting CFI in its efforts to ban animal testing in Europe, with national advertising campaigns and a web and social media campaign targeting thousands of salons across the UK and Europe.

As a strong supporter of the Pink Ribbon Foundation, a portion of the sales from a range of specially created Paul Mitchell pink products is donated every year. With the money raised the grant-making trust funds projects and provides financial support to UK charities addressing the needs of those suffering from, or affected by breast cancer, and those who work to advance the understanding of the disease, its early detection and treatment.

www.crueltyfreeinternational.org

www.pinkribbonfoundation.org.uk


My Life-Changing Experience

Janet Maitland went to Chennai in Southern India as part of the Schwarzkopf Professional Shaping Futures initiative

"Shaping Futures gives teens and young adults living in SOS Children's Villages intensive technical training that will set them on the path of independence. My colleague Rachelle Summerson-Wright and I set out to train under-privileged young people in Chennai, who have experienced more hardship in their young years than is almost imaginable. 

"There were many barriers to overcome; extreme heat, basic conditions, patchy electricity and poor water supplies so we had to work around the unforeseen to create something amazing for these people. The determination to overcome, the need to earn enough to feed themselves for a week, the glee in finding a new skill and hope for a better life to come made all of the worries of work and home fade away. 



"It was great to return to the UK with renewed vigour to continue the work that we already do in our local community and to be reminded that it is often those who have so little in material terms, have the most to give in the ways that matter.

"Few people realise what an incredible career hairdressing can be. Not only does it put the skills to earn a living directly into your hands but it also gives you access to some amazing opportunities. I am passionate about the craft and about charitable support. We conduct a lot of charity work in the UK but I was utterly thrilled to be given the chance to share my skills with underprivileged youths in another country and culture."