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Barber offers free haircuts for homeless people

Adele WilkinsonLeicester
News imageBBC Umar Ali is stood inside the barber shop and is wearing a Grinch Christmas jumper and a red Santa hat. Behind him are pictures of the wall and posters of musicians, amongst various hair products. BBC
Umar Ali said the thought of people sleeping rough had always troubled him

A barbershop in Loughborough has been offering free haircuts to homeless people in the lead-up to Christmas along with anyone else in need.

Umar Ali, owner of Lads and Dads Barbershop, said he wanted to "do my part in giving back to the community".

As well as free haircuts, Christmas-themed snacks were offered at the Ashby Road venue.

Mr Ali, who took over the barbershop in May, said he had been moved to do something after seeing rough sleepers during his time studying at Nottingham Trent University and since moving back to Loughborough.

News imageImage shows the outside of Lads and Dads Barbershop in Loughborough. The bricks on the building are white and so is the door. The window is in the middle and has tinsel dangling down it from the inside. There is also writing on both sides of the window saying 'walk-ins welcome,' and in the middle towards the bottom of the window it says 'Gentleman's Barber Shop' in large white writing. The logo is also above the window and says Lads and Dads Barbershop in caps on a white sign with blue, red and white stripes.
Mr Ali took over the Ashby Road barbershop in May

"It wasn't right for me to be having the time of my life out clubbing, coming back out and seeing people live like that on the street - especially at times like this when it's cold and they don't have jackets," he said.

"So I just wanted to do my part in giving back to the community.

"I came back to Loughborough, set up this barber shop and we are fortunate enough now to do that.

"We want the people coming in to feel an experience.

"We want to have a chat with them, ask them about themselves and make them feel needed."

News imageImage shows a variety of snacks. On the bottom left are chocolate filled croissants, then to the right of them is an apple turnover, and to the right of that more chocolate filled croissants and an apple turnover, then to the right of those are a box of 4 chocolate chip muffins. On the top right is an ornament of two hands which contain candy canes and to the left of those are a tub of Heroes. There are napkins to the left of those and plates to the left of those.
Visitors were also invited to sample festive snacks

Among those taking up the offer was Johnny Harris who used to work as a scaffolder.

After losing his home, he has been living on the streets and recently had his tent stolen. He said the kindness shown by Mr Ali "means quite a lot".

"To some people a haircut is just a haircut, but as a homeless person it brings that bond back," he said.

"It allows you to realise that you're not just on your own and there is a bit of humanity, and there are people out there who do care.

"Besides that, homelessness is a big problem, especially here in Loughborough."

"The haircut will make me feel a whole lot better.

"I suffer with mental illness and it'll help me with my confidence and things like that. I'm blessed to be here."

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