A Stroud barber is championing his own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people during the cost-of-living crisis.
Alistair Noble is providing cut-price haircuts at various social enterprise hubs, providing a vital service to people by only charging them what they could afford.
Alistair told Stroud Times: “I currently offer pay-as-you-can haircuts at Brimscombe Mill and Paganhill Community Centre.
“Supporting local charities and not-for-profits is a big part of my mission, and it’s something I intend to keep doing because I want to make a positive difference for those who need it the most.”
Charity has always been close to Alistair’s heart, he said: “I’ve worked for a number of charities, with the ones that impacted me most being Hertfordshire Mind, Watford Mencap, and the British Red Cross. I was especially passionate about giving haircuts to people who were underprivileged or struggling in some way. It was during this time that I began offering free haircuts to those in need. Now, I continue this by providing free haircuts to the Emmaus Gloucester community.”
Alistair moved to Bussage last year, and is focused on expanding his mobile barbering business. He also takes his scissors and clippers to Spacehoppers, a flexible co-working hub in Stroud, Libby’s Drive, where he offers 10% discount on Tuesdays. He added: “I want to help people, whether it’s due to mobility issues, depression, or sensory sensitivity. I know first hand how overwhelming barbershops can feel for people, especially those who are sensory sensitive or anxious.
“My goal is to provide a calm, patient, and warm environment in the comfort of people’s homes. Parents often tell me how much their children who struggle in a traditional barbershop environment appreciate the safe, peaceful experience I offer.”
The bug for hairdressing started during his teenage years: “I grew up in North London with a disabled father. He had muscular dystrophy, and as his condition worsened, I began cutting his hair during my teens. I wasn’t trained, so I made mistakes, but I felt proud to be able to care for him in that way.
“Though I always had an interest in barbering, I never pursued it formally until 2018. At the time, I had been working in a government job for many years. Over the years, the work environment changed a lot, and I found myself struggling with depression. That forced me to rethink many things in my life. I decided to take the leap and signed up for a barbering academy.
“After completing the course, I worked part-time as a barber while still navigating my way through life.”
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