Barbers give back with free haircutting workshops

Two barbers in East Sussex are running free haircutting workshops for eligible teenagers to help give back to their community.

Bayley Grant, from Bourne Barbers in Eastbourne, ran his first round of workshops alongside colleague Kurtis Clark for 15 teenagers during the Easter break.

The 'barbering holiday club' was funded in part by East Sussex County Council (ESCC) as part of its 'holiday food and fun programme', but the barbers also shouldered some of the cost.

Mr Grant said: "It keeps them out of the town's streets and stuff like that and they are gaining something out of it, so for me that's irreplaceable."

Mr Grant said he also wanted to show the students that there were other paths for teenagers other than going to university.

He explained: "I think schools put too much pressure on it nowadays to become so highly educated, whether it's through university or whatever, but I don't think it's always necessary to be fair."

He said he "wanted to show them that there's other options" because "not everyone is academic".

The recent round of free workshops was for teenagers who were eligible for free school dinners, but Mr Grant said there could also be paid places in the future to fund more spots.

Mr Grant said: "When I first started I had to pretty much learn from other barbers, you learn from your peers, but if I had someone who could give me good direction when I started I would have probably progressed a lot faster."

The next round of workshops is being held in the summer.

ESCC said: "The four-day holiday club was popular with our young people and provided the opportunity for them to gain barbering experience in a friendly, fun atmosphere and enjoy a nutritious lunch."

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