Haircuts for homeless to launch book with 100% proceeds going to charity

Haircuts4Homeless, the charity founded by hairdresser Stewart Roberts has announced 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. Haircuts4Homeless creates space and acceptance for homeless people via a haircut – and 100% of proceeds from the sale the book will go back to the charity. The charity has also set up a Crowd Funder page looking to support the printing costs of the book. The black and white image coffee table book, with images by hair and beauty photographer Jack Eames, came about through session hairstylist and Haircuts4Homeless (H4H) volunteer Leigh Keates. Leigh says: “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.” Stewart Roberts, founder H4H says: “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.”  

What the charity means for the homeless community

Did you know almost 100,000 households reported as homeless at the start of 2021? Founder Stewart shares some of the moments of revelation that have happened since he first started the project back in 2014. Stewart continues: “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.” “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."  

Co-author biographies

Stewart Roberts - Founder of Haircuts4Homeless 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. 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. Haircuts4Homeless has huge support from some of the biggest names in the industry including  L'Oréal, top session hairdressers like Sam McKnight, beauty editors such as Lisa Oxenham of Marie Claire, 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: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/haircuts4homeless 100% of Funds will be used to continue H4H vital services, nationwide.