John’s Story

After being out of work for a long period due to illness, John had been attending the Job Centre regularly, doing everything he could to get back on his feet. When he finally secured an interview for a new job, it should have felt like progress, but it also brought a new worry.

Living on a low income meant that even covering the cost of basic essentials was a struggle for John, and he had to maintain a very strict budget to stay afloat. However, he was also in desperate need of a new haircut after letting his hair grow–out during recent years due to his illness. Unfortunately, John could not stretch his budget to afford a new trim, and he was very concerned this could affect how his potential employer viewed him during the interview.

John was referred to TMDF by his Work Coach at the Job Centre, and as soon as he got in touch, we booked him in for a haircut at our Stay Well Wednesdays club, the day before his interview. On arrival, he met our Community Outreach Worker, Jenna, who is also our in-house Hairdresser with 14 years of professional experience.

From the moment he walked in, John felt welcomed. The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and he didn’t feel like a “charity case”, it was just like visiting a regular barbershop, but affordable. Jenna took the time to listen to John’s requests, and helped him to leave the appointment looking smart and ready for his interview.

With a fresh trim and renewed confidence, John went to his interview feeling prepared and composed. Soon after, he very happily shared the good news with our team, he had got the job!

Today, John is working regular hours again and earning a stable income, gradually rebuilding his confidence. He regularly recommends Stay Well Wednesdays to anyone he knows that might need the support, and is still very grateful for the service TMDF provided. He told us: