Students of award-winning Hair@theAcademy based in Exeter were both surprised and delighted to receive unexpected food and Christmas gifts kindly donated by the local community to spread a little joy and happiness over the festive season.

Mary Pugsley MBE, a senior state registered hairdresser (SSRH), set up Hair@theAcademy in 2004 from a small room at Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education with just three back-wash basins. It had always been her dream to support young adults with complex needs, including learners who are vulnerably housed, in the care system and from all kinds of backgrounds or circumstances into learning a new trade in hairdressing, barbering, and customer service, to enable them to get into paid employment or further education.

Local PR Consultant, Glen King has supported the not-for-profit academy for a number of years on a pro-bono basis as her way of giving back to the community.  She said: “Mary created Hair@theAcademy, the only one of its kind in the UK offering a unique training programme to vulnerable young people.  Over the years I’ve watched the students grow in confidence, blossoming under the care and teaching from Mary and her support team. When speaking recently to Mary, I asked how the students manage during the Christmas holidays, as it can be such a stressful time. She said that for some, it puts them and their families under immense pressure financially and can exacerbate their mental health issues.”

Glen comments: “I found it heart-breaking knowing what a struggle it would be for them when so many of us overindulge at this joyful time.  I  put out a plea to my local residents of Gras Lawn where I live through our WhatsApp group, and family and friends asking them to rummage in their kitchen cupboards for tins and packets of food to help the students enjoy some festive cheer. They came up trumps and were so generous.  Food parcels and Christmas goodies started piling up on my doorstep; it was a heart-warming and neighbourly response, and I am so grateful to them for their support and kindness.”

Mary Pugsley  MBE – Founder of Hair@theacademy said: “No words can describe how grateful we are to Glen and the local community for their immense generosity; it will make a huge difference to the lives of the students who desperately need our help.   Thank you to everyone involved from the bottom of my heart.”

Mary concludes: “And it’s good news all round as Hair@theAcademy will be celebrating this festive season, having been named as winners in not one, but two categories of the brand-new prestigious Collective Pride Awards, sponsored by Professional Beauty.  Launched by mental wellbeing and suicide prevention charity ‘The Lions Barber Collective’, the Collective Pride Awards recognise the hard work of unsung hair and beauty heroes across the UK, in eight categories – those who not only deliver exceptional services day in, day out but go the extra mile to help others in a time of need, genuinely making a difference to someone’s life.”

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