CUTTING EDGE

Local community group The Lions Barber Collective has received £30,000 in National Lottery funding to support its mental health training for hair and barber professionals. The group, based in Devon, will use the cash to deliver BarberTalk mental health training to hair and barber professionals across England.

The group will also be able to collect and collate data around the effectiveness of the training for both hair professionals and clients. This will be invaluable to help improve the already life-saving BarberTalk initiative during these difficult times.

Lions Barber Collective programme director Karen McMillan says: “This funding will allow us to get a few more steps closer to educating the entire industry in mental health, preparing them not only for those moments of crisis but everyday conversations with clients as we all have mental health.”

Murdock Barbers of London partnered with entertainment TV channel, Dave and CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) to raise awareness around men’s mental health for World Mental Health Day last month.

It was part of a multimedia campaign that included co-branding in stores, TV ads, social videos and episodes of the ‘Conversations Against Living Miserably’ podcast.

The partnership with Dave TV and CALM has encouraged more clients to open up, check in on friends and ensure men talk more about their mental health. Murdock’s managing director Anna Worthington said: “Our barbers are passionate about the wellbeing of their clients. Looking after men is a fundamental part of our DNA.”

CALM’s helpline is open from 5pm to midnight everyday – 0800 58 58 58.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Modern Barber Awards 2020 will now be a virtual event held on Monday 7 December from 7pm. Modern Barber said: “Along with our sponsors MVRCK by Mitch UK, Takara Belmont and Wahl UK we’re excited to broadcast the awards across the Modern Barber Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels. With ‘live’ events continuing to look uncertain we’ve made a positive decision to reward the much-deserved finalists with their awards in 2020 rather than postpone to 2021.”

For more information go to modernbarber.co.uk.