A unique hairdressing training salon is moving to larger premises after a charity stepped in to find it a new home.
Hair@TheAcademy, was set up by Mary Pugsley in 2004 from a small room with three back-wash basins located at Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education, to support young adults with complex needs to learn a trade.
But following relocation of the Deaf Academy to Exmouth, Ms Pugsley has been seeking a larger space in the centre of Exeter to continue training vulnerable people.
But thankfully the charity administered by the Incorporation of Weavers, Fullers and Shearmen, in Exeter, has funded a new salon space in the heart of the city.
It has bought Cornerstone, a freehold property in Kimberly Road formerly owned by Isca Church, and will be rent to Hair@theAcademy.
Ms Pugsley, who received an MBE in 2019 for her work with vulnerable people, said: “Our ethos is ‘education to employment’ working with the most vulnerable young people in our community by supporting them towards completion of work-ready qualifications delivering hairdressing, barbering, customer service, maths and English.
“We have had to turn away up to three students a week because of lack of space, so it was crucial we found a new larger salon to continue to promote inclusion, reduce exclusion, eliminate barriers to learning and participation for all those hard to reach students as well as the homeless.”
She added: “It’s been a challenging journey and a race against time to find the right premises before the relocation of the Deaf Academy, so it’s very exciting to be able to expand into this large building in the heart of the city and be able to take on more students.”
She thanked The Incorporation of Weavers Fullers and Shearmen for “their immense generosity” and pointed out that Hair@theAcademy has a 90% success record in putting trainees into paid work, with many former students now tutors.
The Incorporation of Weavers Fullers and Shearmen is based at Tuckers Hall, a medieval Guild Hall built and owned by the Guild of Weavers since 1471. Incorporation is the term used since the Royal Charter of 1620 to describe the organisation of Exeter woollen cloth trades that had before been organised as Guilds.
Ian Gardner, current Master of the Incorporation of Weavers, Fullers and Shearmen said: “Our charity provides support for disadvantaged young people aged between 16 and 25 to receive training and assistance to enable them into employment.
“The training programme provided by Hair@theAcademy fits this brief perfectly. We support many local charities including YMCA Exeter; however, this is the first time we have purchased a property specifically for a community project.
“It’s a very exciting new era for us, not least because we are celebrating the Weavers, Fullers and Shearmen’s 400 anniversary of the granting of their Royal Charter in 2020.”
Work has started on site using local contractors for the plumbing, heating and vital roof repairs as well as converting the internal layout to create a new salon space for Hair@theAcademy on the ground floor.
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Upstairs will see the creation of office space which will be available for rent to bring in additional income and help fund the Hair@theAcademy programme.
Builders are adhering to Government advice during Covid-19, and in accordance with the safe working guidance produced by the Construction Leadership Council.
Cornerstone, believed to have been built in the late 1800s, boasts a generous space of approximately 2,600sq ft split over two floors with outside space.
The more spacious premises means Hair@theAcademy can double the intake of students, with double the number of backwash basins, create hair and beauty rooms for massage and nails; a theory room; disabled toilet; an office for confidential meetings with social workers, and breakout area.
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Devon-based construction professionals have offered their specialist advice and services for free to help the academy keep refurbishment costs to a minimum.
Plymouth-based Architects Design Group (ADG) is among them and director Dale Beeson said: “We were keen to help as this project very much fits with our CSR philosophy. This included the provision of initial plan layouts, general notes of any technical issues to be considered and the likely input required, plus liaison with Hoare Lea, consulting engineers, to devise an outline servicing strategy.
“This initial overview proved helpful in kick-starting the project. We’ll continue to offer ongoing support.”
Karl Friedrich, partner Hoare Lea Plymouth office offered professional consultancy advice on the building’s mechanical and electrical services. He said: “It’s important to us to try and help those less fortunate and we didn’t hesitate in giving our service.”
Independent Exeter-based company CAP Ceilings & Partitions Ltd pitched in with products and labour free of charge.
