Grassroots Edinburgh charity helps the homeless with free haircuts

An Edinburgh charity has teamed up with Veen Barbers and Streetwork to provide haircuts to those experiencing homelessness in the Capital.

Veen Barbers visited Streetwork to provide haircuts organised by Unity

Unity, who work to offer help to those in need both locally and internationally, arranged for Veen Barbers to visit Streetwork on Friday.

Mousa Raza from Unity said: “When it comes to this time of year it is easy for people to forget about those in need and take little things like haircuts for granted.

“For many people, £20 for a haircut is nothing but for others like those involved in Streetwork, it may be that they have to decide between eating and a haircut, and a haircut isn’t the priority.

The grassroots charity began in April to help those most in need in the Capital and beyond

“We visited Streetwork with five barbers who did around 20 haircuts. The people who engaged and had a trim were delighted. Some said that they looked ten years younger, and one person in particular said that they were applying for jobs but it was difficult to go in looking and feeling scruffy. They said that they felt more presentable and confident.

“Sometimes it is the little things like this that fall by the wayside, people always think to donate food and clothes which are extremely important, but little things like this that many of us take for granted mean the world to people in need.”

Unity is grassroots and volunteer-led and became a registered charity at the beginning of April.

Throughout the pandemic provided 500,000 meals across 22 countries including 4000 in Edinburgh to those in need, and provided 600 toys to vulnerable children during lockdown.

Clients said that they felt ten years younger, and more confident

Unity’s charity work can be followed on their Facebook page or Instagram.

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