For many of us, a trip down the hair salon is a regular part of our lives. We don’t give it much of a second thought. But for Emily Harris, it was attending a special event which reaches out to the most vulnerable, isolated or homeless areas of society in Swansea, which allowed her to have her hair cut for the first time in 17 years – and she wasn’t alone – another woman had her first hair cut in 20 years and was in tears as it happened.
The 37-year-old, who spent time living on the streets and without a home, was full of smiles at the city’s Brangwyn Hall as she adjusted to her new look locks which she described as “exciting”.
She said: “It feels really strange to have it done, and exciting, it was definitely long-awaited. It just reminds you that there are people out there who give a s***, and I mean that with all the love in the world. I was on the streets for a while prior, so it was hard to know that sometimes.” For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here.
Miss Harris’s new look was achieved thanks to this year’s annual Together at Christmas event, which aims to spread some festive cheer and support for people in society who otherwise would go without. The day included a free two-course Christmas dinner, a pop-up food bank, live entertainment, free transport, free flu and covid vaccines, free haircuts, free winter coats and clothing, free help and advice from Swansea Council on housing, employment and welfare rights, whilst Tawe Vets supplied veterinary advice, food and beds for pets.
Miss Harris added: “I came to this event last year when I was homeless. I am still classed as homeless, but staying with my partner at the moment. I had not had my hair cut for 17 years. This is the second year I have been and I’d recommend it to anyone. They do such a great job – even if it’s just for a chat and not the food or anything, as a social event, you see friends old and new and warm and happy faces. You always end up chatting to somebody new and make new mates for next year which is brilliant. It’s heartwarming.
“There’s a lot of community still in Swansea, even if we do not know it. You may not feel it from neighbour to neighbour, but once everyone is under the same roof, and we’re all in the same boat, it spreads. We’ve all got a bit of love for each other and all look out for each other – we try anyway!”
The woman who first came up with the idea for the event is Jessica Rice, director of JR Events and Catering. With the support of Swansea Council, she decided to open the doors of the Brangwyn Hall to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy a day of good food and entertainment in a beautiful setting.
She explained: “It first started because we hold Swansea’s biggest Christmas party and we were very conscious that there was a proportion of Swansea who didn’t get to come along and enjoy them. The Brangwyn is an iconic, gorgeous venue, but I wanted it to be an accessible venue for everyone.
“We approached Rob (Stewart, leader of Swansea Council) many years ago and asked: ‘What can we do to get these doors open?’ Together we do this every year for anybody from Swansea who is homeless, facing homelessness, feeling isolated, vulnerable, to come along and have a festive afternoon. There’s food, there’s drink, there’s support services, and lots of wrap-around services – so it’s not just about coming here and having a belly full of food and taking some clothes home, it’s also about accessing some additional support, should you want it.
“Post-Covid demand has without a doubt grown, but I’m pleased that we’re able to provide a service and fulfil a need that clearly is here. Because of the additional services we are able to provide further than we have done before. The first year it was just the food, then it was food and entertainment, then there was a food bank, then a clothing bank, and we’ve even got vaccinations, a podiatrist, a hairdressers, it’s very much designed that you can access as much support as you feel you would like to access. There’s no pressure, but it’s there for as much as you want it.”
Anthony Rosser was one of the guests who attended the event. He explained that, without it, he wouldn’t have had a chance to enjoy a festive dinner of his own this year.
The 63-year-old said: “I wouldn’t have an opportunity to have a Christmas dinner unless I came here. I’m very happy and feel very welcome, it is a beautiful event. They gave us presents to take away with us, it really is a beautiful thing. The event means a hell of a lot to me because it has shown me if you’re a conformist, and blend with society in a nice way, then there’s so much reward. I’ve enjoyed myself.”
Trina Marks was also full of praise for the event, having experienced tragedy in her personal life this year. She explained how the mood of the event was so joyous that she posed for photos with people she had never met prior.
The 45-year-old said: “I lost my partner in March. I lost my place and I had to start all over again. I ended up living at supported accommodation, and they brought me along today. Swansea has got the most support I know of. It means everything to me. Stuff like this is bringing everyone together. Because I’m on my own all the time it’s nice to be around people. It shows you’re not always alone, there is help out there and there’s company out there. I’ve been taking photos left right and centre today, with people I don’t even know, people are just happy.”
Adele Coghlan, who lives by herself and has mobility issues, praised the event overall, also taking the opportunity to have her hair cut. The 53-year-old, of Townhill, said: “It’s not just for the vulnerable, and the homeless, the event is also for the lonely, which I consider myself. I recently had an operation in April, I’ve got bad knees, it is hard to get out. Where I used to be an outgoing person, I’m not now. I don’t know why, some people feel better if they are wearing nice clothes, but I feel better with myself if I have nice hair. If my hair is nice, I feel nice.”
Nisha Verma was at the event with her young son. She said: “We are new to Swansea, and we wanted to come along to get to know the people, get to know the culture. I came last year whilst my studies were going on, but now that they are over I have more time to enjoy festivals and everything over here. I went through a period of my life where I was supported with free food, clothing and some stuff for my baby, and I am highly grateful for that. I am looking for some jobs now.”
Lara Johnson was cutting hair at the event together with her team from award-winning Lara Johnson Lifestyle Salon, based in Mumbles. She said: “I think it’s very humbling to be part of something like this. Over the years, this event has grown and grown in strength. It’s such an incredible thing to see Swansea’s best coming together to donate their time, sometimes that’s all it takes. Part of homelessness is people just feel lost and don’t have an identity. Every single person who has come to us today, we’ve asked their name, where they are from, we’ve connected with them.
“We’re here to make sure every single person here today has an experience they would have in a salon, giving them that opportunity to feel good and look better. All of us know, if we’re having a bad day and we get our hair done, we instantly feel better. My first client here hadn’t had her hair done for 20 years. She sat there with tears rolling down her face. When she left, she said ‘I really need to hug you’ as it was the best day she had for many years. They’re going away from the event feeling fabulous. It’s such a worthy cause to support.”
The event had a whole host of organisations on hand to offer support to people in whichever way they needed it. These included local area co-ordinators, housing advice and support teams, homelessness charities, family organisations, welfare support and more. Among them was Matthew’s House, which supports the most vulnerable in society.
Thom Lynch is project leader. He said: “There’s lots of faces we see here regularly, and it’s nice to see faces who haven’t popped in for a while to check in with, but it just lifts everyone’s spirits, getting ready for what, sometimes, for many people, is a difficult season. We have the privilege of getting alongside some people who are struggling so much, and supporting them with those battles, whether that’s loneliness, whether they have lost a loved one, whether they don’t have the money to enjoy the moment that many of us can.”
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart was serving food up at the event personally. He said: “This is the sixth or seventh year we’ve done this now, and it’s both great and sad at the same time. It’s great that we’re able to do this, and is part of £600,000 of support we’re putting out to help people in Swansea this year, but this relationship we have with JR Catering, where they are able to provide the catering, and we help them with the funding of that – it’s great that we’re able to do that. You can see the amount of need there is out there for people this winter. I estimate we’ve served around 500 meals so far. All we’re trying to do is give people who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity of a Christmas dinner the chance to have some hot food.
“The event has grown, certainly over the Covid period, and through the cost-of-living crisis, you really saw the numbers lift then, but that’s why we’ve got free bus travel at the moment, free food going out to our communities, vouchers going out so people can buy Christmas dinner themselves this year, and we do this annual event as well. We’ve got all of our council teams here today and we look to connect people with services that can help them over the winter period.
“I’m so proud of the work that all of the teams in the voluntary sector do to help people, and it is about getting people into the best position we can, finding them a home, helping them to manage that home and get back on their feet. The event is something I hope we can continue to do year on year, but I also hope the demand reduces so people don’t need services like this.”
Ms Rice added: “This morning when I got here, there were people outside before I arrived. There was a chap who had walked an hour and a half from the other side of Neath to get here. When they get here the building is lovely and warm, and before we opened the doors we were taking tea and coffee and biscuits out to them. They are coming here and staying here. It’s about togetherness, it’s about the city coming together and every single organisation stand that is here is voluntary. It is about making sure we’re looking after the community.
“There’s two ways of looking at it. It’s a shame that demand has grown, but I’m really pleased that we are able to provide and help whilst that demand has grown. It’s a bit of a double edged sword, but it’s a humbling event and we’re thrilled to be able to host it every year and humbled that the city comes together every year.
“The amount of people who do get accommodation over Christmas just from this event alone is staggering. It literally changes lives, you come here and get a belly full of food and warm clothes, but can leave with a list of people who can help you get back into accommodation, who can help you access health services, get your life back to where you want it to be. Year on year we see a lot of the same people, but they are generally in a better position than they were the year before. We have two volunteers at the event who were service users pre-Covid.” Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. You will receive updates from us daily.
