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(Photo by Glen King) Mary Pugsley MBE receives hair product donations from Jessica Sydenham (Head of Donations – Lush)
Lush, well-known for fresh, handmade cosmetics, and zero waste, eco-friendly options using natural ingredients for healthy hair, has kindly donated a range of hairstyling products to locally based Hair@theAcademy, a hairdressing training salon for vulnerable young adults based in the heart of the city and the only one of its kind in the UK.
Founded by Mary Pugsley MBE in 2004, Hair@theAcademy offers a unique training programme delivering hairdressing, barbering, customer service, Math’s & English, supporting vulnerable young adults, including the homeless in greater Exeter, towards completion of work-ready qualifications.
Jessica Sydenham, Head of Donations at Lush (Exeter) got in touch with the academy to offer complimentary hair products using natural preservatives, for their students to try out in their new salon in Kimberly Road. She said: “We had some stock that is past its display by date, but not its ‘use by’ date. Lush has a very tight freshness policy, so from the day it is made it has just seven months to be sold, otherwise, it will be wasted off and made into testers or given away as donations. As a handmade-cosmetics company, we are always rotating our stock, and rather than letting it go to waste, we donate it to local people who will benefit from receiving these high-quality items, whether for hygiene purposes; to practice with new products, or just someone who’s having a difficult time and in need of some pampering.”
The bounty of products donated by Lush to Hair@theAcademy was made up of things available in the shop, mostly from their afro/curly haircare range. Jessica explains: “I thought it would be a great opportunity for the students to test and play with new products designed for various hair types. This includes curly and coily hair which is made up of compact spirals, corkscrew or natural kinks.” She adds: “My mum is a hairdresser/stylist and constantly coming home with the very latest products she’s bought to try in order to benefit her clients, which can be really expensive. So when I heard about the Hair Academy, I knew this was someone who really deserved our help and where it would make a difference. By making this donation it will not only inspire the students to try out a new range but also teach them what a variety of products for different hair types feels and looks like. Overall it will give them the experience of using new products they may not have seen or heard of before.”
Mary Pugsley MBE, Director – Hair@theAcademy comments: “It is always so lovely when local businesses are kind enough to think of us and we are so grateful to Jessica for getting in touch. By kindly donating their products, Lush is helping our students to trial exciting new products which gives them a wonderful opportunity to work with a wider range of hairstyling treatments and will enhance their learning experience.”
Students Alfie Tucker & Mia Hallam (photo by Glen King)
Hair@theAcademy student Alfie Tucker agrees – he said: “We really enjoyed unpacking all the wonderful Lush products and trying them out. It really created a buzz at the salon and was exciting and fun. Using the Lush styling treatments will also help us be more creative and knowledgeable in using the right product for various hair types as part of our learning journey.”
Lush benefits many local charities and organisations including schools that provide extracurricular support for disabled children and young adults, mental health clinics, children’s hospice, Exeter Samaritans, food banks, and many more. “Jessica concludes: “I believe that the greatest gift we have been blessed with is kindness. I love my job and feel so lucky, particularly during the Pandemic, to be able to help those in need to experience our wonderful products at absolutely no cost.”
www.hairattheacademy.co.uk / www.lush.com
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