Free haircuts and mental health information at Safe Space pop up in Walton

MERSEY Care NHS Foundation Trust and The Lions Barber Collective have teamed up to run a free hairdressing and mental health event on:- Thursday, 28 March 2024, between:- 8:30am and 1pm, at The Blue Base, in Walton.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and The Lions Barber Collective have teamed up to run a free hairdressing and mental health event on:- Thursday, 28 March 2024, between:- 8:30am and 1pm, at The Blue Base in Walton.

The Safe Space pop up is a chance for local residents to get a free haircut, have an open conversation about their mental health and take away a goody bag which includes a range of useful information about local and national mental health services.

Those attending will also get the chance to learn more about the free online suicide awareness training courses from the Zero Suicide Alliance.

Jade Thai, Senior Research Manager at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, said:- "We are pleased to work in partnership with The Lions Barber Collective and Everton in the Community on this event and for the support we have received from the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR), Clinical Research Network North West Coast. By running a Safe Space pop-up with The Lions Barber Collective, we hope to reach people in our local communities that we may not have done before with vital information about mental health and suicide prevention. We are also working with The Lions Barber Collective to provide free BarberTalk training sessions to local hairdressers, barbers and beauticians. This training will help them to spot the signs of a customer struggling with their mental health and how to listen and advise them on seeking help."

The Lions Barber Collective was set up in 2015 by Tom Chapman. He said:- "We are delighted to be working with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. Our aim is to create safe places for people to go and talk about the issues they have with the people they trust, breaking the taboo and showing the world that it is ok to be not ok and to share their problems without fear of judgement."

The Safe Space pop-up event will take place at:- The Blue Base, Salop Street, Liverpool, L44BZ, coinciding with the jobs fair and food pantry at the Everton in the Community venue. No appointments are needed for haircuts, but they will be provided on a first come, first served basis.

If you are a barber, hairdresser or beautician interested in participating in future:- 'BarberTalk' training please contact:- Joleen Shaw in Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's Safe, from Suicide Team, at:- Joleen.Shaw@MerseyCare.NHS.UK.

To find out more about:- The Lions Barber Collective, please visit:- TheLionsBarberCollective.Com.

9 month old former stray found covered in mites hopes to hop off to her forever home this Easter

DOGS Trust Merseyside is hoping that this Easter they can hunt out a forever home for 1 of their dogs with ears to rival Roger Rabbit.

9 months old Dutch Shepherd Cross, Avy, arrived at the Huyton based rehoming centre just before Christmas 2023 in a terrible state. But thanks to the team's care, she has fully recovered and is now hoping to find her:- 'hoppily' ever after with a new family.

Georgina Lowery, Manager at Dogs Trust Merseyside, says:- "Avy was found as a stray at just five-months-old and when we started looking after her, she was tiny and her fur was really patchy and sore due to mites. Our hearts went out to her. Now, 3 months later, she has blossomed into a beautiful young girl and has the most spectacular ears! She is really affectionate, energetic and loves to explore to satisfy her youthful curiosity, so we really hope that as the Easter holidays arrive, she finds her perfect match."

Avy can potentially live with another dog and she can live with children over the age of ten. She loves being around people so can't be left home alone until she is fully settled into her new home, and then time apart from her humans will need to be built up gradually. Avy is playful, loves her toys and likes to keep her brain as well as her body busy.

Georgina says:- "Easter is recognised as a time of new beginnings, and we really hope that proves to be true for Avy. It is so sad when a dog of such a young age has gone through so much. All Avy lacks is confidence, but we have every confidence that with the right family she will become the perfect canine companion."

If you think you could give Avy the home she deserves, please go to:- DogsTrust.Org.UK to find out more about her and other dogs waiting for their forever homes this Easter.