Barber gives free haircuts to the homeless

This is Paul, 54 years old. I found Paul sat down on The Strand, one of the busiest streets in Central London. I wandered how many people he must see walking by each day. As soon as I approached him he gave me a big smile and I knew I'd enjoy getting to know this man. Paul was born in Yorkshire, he's been homeless for the last five years. After working as a mechanic for the majority of his career in the north of England, he moved up to Scotland to enjoy the next chapter of his life. Unfortunately things didn't work out quite as easy as he'd thought. Paul struggled finding work and when the money he had saved ran out he could no longer pay his rent. This led him to his first night on the street. Paul told me he got a cheap bus down to London, mainly because of slightly warmer climates and a new experience. He's been on the street here for the last few months and is hoping for a break soon, to get back on his feet again and back to a life he once knew. Meeting Paul was an experience I won't forget. We sat down and shared stories for an hour after his haircut and I couldn't have felt happier in his company. I could feel his confidence had increased ten fold. I thanked him for spending his time with me and letting me help him, doing what I love ✂️ #DoSomethingForNothing

A photo posted by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on Jul 17, 2016 at 12:32pm PDT

@DoSomethingForNothing || This is Paul, He's been homeless in and off for years now. Paul was in tears at more than one point during his haircut. He told us he was violently attacked hours before we bumped into him, because he threw himself on top of a friend to protect him from a beating. He took it instead. We could see his legs, hands and head were extremely sore and bruised from where he had been repeatedly hit with bottles. In this moment I believe Paul's willingness to defend a friend means he's probably out classed most of us. Profoundly moving. You can't fix everyone. But for the time we are with them we can listen, we can hear their story, we can love them, we can be bringers of compassion and dignity. Paul's haircut made him happy, I could feel his appreciation as we embraced at the end. Myself, @daveburt & @mattspracklen left him smiling. I told him I've he's hairdresser now and that he'll see us all again soon. Share your own stories on #DoSomethingForNothing - you might not be able to cut hair, but you can use your time and your own skills to make a difference to one person.

A photo posted by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on Jul 29, 2016 at 8:31am PDT

This is Angie, 38 years old. Angie has been on the streets since she was a teenager. She was born into drug addiction and had to fend for herself from a very early age. She spoke to me of her own battle with addiction throughout her twenties. Being around drugs since she was a child, this was inevitable. Angie is an absolute sweetheart, during the haircut she charmed the hell out me and lifted my spirits to another level 🙌🏼 Her bubbly personality was a joy. To see her smile constantly, after the stories she told me is so inspiring. Any petty worries I have all completely disappear when I meet someone like her. Angie's last haircut was about a year ago so it was great to get rid of the spilt ends, making it easier for her to brush and maintain each day. She said - 'Nobody comes to us and does this on the street, it's made me feel really special' - Angie sleeps near Trafalgar Square area with her partner. If you see her, go and show her some love. You'll get it in return ten fold. #DoSomethingForNothing

A photo posted by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on Jul 31, 2016 at 7:19am PDT

Clive has just started another programme to try and beat his addiction. Remember people, there's a root to every problem. The more I speak to my clients on the street, the more I realise it's not as simple as the choices one makes. There's a multitude of reasons that contribute to homelessness or drug addiction. Your love could be enough to help somebody through. #DoSomethingForNothing || 📷 @daveburt

A photo posted by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on Jul 10, 2016 at 11:51am PDT

This is Zack, 36 years old. This guy has got a smile on his face whenever I see him, so it was really nice to let it shine through with a beard trim! 👍🏼 Such an amazing personality. I was so happy to do this for him, every time I've seen Zack around The Strand in London I always speak to him and offered him a haircut. His response is usually 'Thanks man, but I'm growing my hair out!' Each time I've said 'Hey Zack, is today the day??' And this time he said 'It's time for the beard trim' Zack is one of those people I can tell everybody loves having around. There's a real sense of community to some of the people I meet down in the Charing Cross area and Zack is a constantly bright soul in that party. He has been homeless for years now and smiles like he hasn't got a worry in the world. Makes you question the small things we worry about each day. #DoSomethingForNothing

A photo posted by Joshua Coombes (@joshuacoombes) on Jun 8, 2016 at 1:49pm PDT