A social enterprise based in Ballymun is taking hairdressing, barbering and valuable life skills to teenagers in the area, and in the future has hopes to expand around Ireland.
The initiative “Hair Together”, an experiential learning programme was founded by a dedicated team of three, a hair stylist, a barber, and a psychologist.
Eileen McHugh, Gemma McCabe, and Tony O’Reilly are helping teens discover an outlet of creativity, a promising career, and the chance to discover their hidden talents in a welcoming, fun setting.
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Speaking to the Irish Mirror, CEO, Eileen McHugh, shared the programme's inception, the passion, and the social impact of 'Hair Together' on young teens, their mental health, growing their confidence, and inspiring people in the wider community.
The programme initially grew from Setanta GAA Club’s 'Bringing Education and Sport Together' (BEST) programme, which aims to keep teens learning.
The course began as a pilot programme that has been praised by the hair industry, and it became something much more.
It all began in Ballymun
Eileen grew up in Ballymun, and shared how amazing the Ballymun community is.
Reflecting on the enterprise's Ballymun roots, she said: “There is such an amazing community within, a community I’m so proud to be part of.”
Dedicated and committed, Eileen said: “It all began in Ballymun, I’m from the area, and I love hair and sports. It started in Setanta GAA Club. I'm a former vice chair and I was coaching the children, it was about bringing education and sport together.”
The passion and drive from the team to create an impact on the community and give the students a creative outlet, introducing them to the world of hair is the very essence of what Hair Together is about.
Hair Together’s 10 week experience is made up of stylists and barbers with a wealth of industry experience, promoting positive wellbeing, and practising different techniques throughout the classes.
RTÉ previously did a report on the pilot scheme which happened during the pandemic, and it proved to be a resounding success.
Eileen said: “We developed a 10-week educational and personal development programme that utilises hairdressing and barbering to stimulate creativity and develop life skills. It’s an exciting new initiative which has received much praise within the hair industry.”
Eileen added that there were a few young lads caught selling crack cocaine, and that the programme was not a solution, but rather an outlet.
The imitative began running cooking and gym classes in the beginning, where hair was the winner.
“A few young lads were selling crack cocaine. It was really horrible. I was coaching them, through the BEST programme, we did the gym and cooking, but hair proved to be more popular.” she said.
What it’s all about
The social enterprise has three core values for the programme: to create a Career Gateway, focusing throughout on positive wellbeing practices, and ‘Sustainability’ through their product and tool choices.
Participants in the experience have the chance to leave with skills to bring to their daily lives.
Eileen shared “It happened naturally, from the first night in the barbers, It was hard to get it off the ground. But we are thriving.”
Kevin Murphy has been the team’s choice from the start as their commitment to the environment mirrors the ethos of Hair Together.
The initiative has been backed by the Hair Café Salon, Smithfield, and other salons, with demand to participate in the course out the door.
Hair Together is unlike any other experience for teenagers, and aims to open the minds of students to more than just a career in the hairdressing industry.
The hairdressing and barbering students get a first class experience, through the “Backstage Experience, and have hair salon days and receive special talks from industry professionals such as David Campbell, the group owner for House of Colour.
Humble CEO, Eileen, has styled many top fashion models at some of Europe’s biggest fashion events such as Paris Fashion Week, Copenhagen Fashion Week, Erki Moe Show in Estonia and more with the Kevin Murphy, International Session Styling Team.
The passionate trailblazer added: “Our courses are suitable for young and mature students as it introduces new career opportunities.”
Students have the chance to execute their own catwalk look for the final showcase.
She added: “By experimenting and making the looks their own they are perfecting their skill set so that they can execute a catwalk look for the final showcase.”
After finishing the programme, students get a certificate of completion, and graduation day.
There are plans for a second and third level programme in the future.
Eileen said: “The kids get a certificate of completion when they finish, we’re planning a second and third one, but they leave with so much more from the experience.”
“It opens so many doors, it's so vast, you can develop in other areas, you could travel, earning potential is savage, we get the kids excited.”
Making moves, the sky's the limit
Hair Together was recently nominated for a Social Entrepreneur Ireland impact award, impressively making it to the final twelve.
Eileen shared that the biggest challenge with the initiative was funding, “it’s very hard at times, but it’s so positive and electric.”
“The three of us are working constantly in order to develop and grow the programme, it’s challenging to say the least, especially around funding, it’s been cut back because of the pandemic, and in the local community.”
The winner of the SEI award impact programme receives direct funding worth over €20,000, and support in key business areas.
The SEI impact programme helps take projects and organisations to the next level by providing specialised support over nine months.
Hair Together CLG has also won the global award, which was the Kevin Murphy Icon award.
The team travelled to Berlin to receive their award, and had the opportunity to share their achievement worldwide through Kevin Murphy.
“We won a global award, the Kevin murphy Icon award, we travelled to Berlin, were treated like VIP's, and were globally recognised receiving our prize and award, it was amazing.”
Expanding Hair Together
There are plans to run similar courses in Shelton Abbey’s open prison in the future, and Coolmine Therapeutic Centre to give prisoners and recovering addicts an opportunity to develop new skills.
“We just finished the course in Trinity Comprehensive School, the 10 week programme, with transition year & 5th year, we even had a showcase. It's a mix of wellbeing, it's the way we plan it & innovate, the teens really benefit from it.”
Eileen expressed that it’s “magic” and very fulfilling, when the teens are learning, growing their confidence, and discovering a new passion is so rewarding.
“You’re giving back to the kids, giving them the outlet, we’ve the power to give them the chance of finding their passion, and trying something new.”
Eileen added: “The hair industry is crying for professionals. It’s the whole experience, we work as a team, the aim is to get a catwalk, confident and creative, the kids get a backstage experience.”
The participants develop and evolve throughout the programme, with support from the super trio who are determined to create a fun-filled and memorable experience for the teens.
“Seeing the kids grow and weekly evolving, and knowing we’ve done it from scratch, we’re impacting people.”
Eileen expressed that the atmosphere on the course is positive, and electric.
“Trying to juggle everything, it can be very hard, with lots of obstacles, but the team is extremely passionate. The kids leave with transferable skills, the atmosphere during the course is so positive and electric.”
“They can decide afterwards if they want to work in the area, they’ve been networking, we have treatment salon days, we want to grow but we are limited with time, and funding.”
If you are interested in participating, supporting, or finding out more about Hair Together, you can contact the team at info@hairtogetherireland.com or through their Instagram, hairtogetherireland.
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