A team of hairdressers and beauty therapists in Chichester, England are lending their support to a project to help the homeless in their area. The staff of Q Hair and Beauty, one of the city’s leading salons, are backing the Four Streets initiative launched in 2016 by Donna Ockenden to bring some comfort to people who are living rough in the city. Members of Team Q take turns going out onto the streets in the evening to distribute food, water and toiletries to those in need.

The team has set up a donation box at the salon which is already filling up. Q is also donating shampoo and other toiletries while clients are bringing in items such as warm clothing, coats and blankets. 

“We are very excited about getting involved in this initiative,” said Dawn Lawrence, managing director of Q Hair and Beauty. “The whole team will be taking part on a rotational basis because they feel it’s such a worthwhile scheme. In Chichester there is very little provision for homeless people after 4pm every day and as winter approaches the situation becomes even worse for them.

“It’s easy for many of us to live in our own little bubble, well-fed and comfortable, but at Q we have a philosophy of getting involved in projects to help people in our area. While donations are always very important, we’re particularly pleased to be involved with a scheme like this as it’s much more rewarding to be physically contributing your time and effort, and actually seeing the rewards of what you are doing.

“We may also be offering free haircuts, as hair can make such a difference to how people feel.”

Once every two weeks, the staff of Q set off in the evening to offer food, water and toiletries to those they find sleeping on the streets. The coats, blankets, duvets and underwear they can also provide will play an important part in keeping the less fortunate in society warm. There will even be an effort to bring them some festive cheer in the form of a gift so that they have something unwrap on Christmas Day.