23 Jun Croydon barber creates safe space for men to talk through lockdown

When lockdown restrictions closed the doors to Yian Hapeshis’ barber shop he turned to 
the internet to replicate the experience of a chat in the chair.

With friend and mental health campaigner Lee Townsend, he set up a weekly Virtual Barber’s Chair to provide a safe space for men to catch up and have a chat.

In the barber’s shop, says Yian, you meet many different people and are part of many different conversations.

It was that relationship that he sought to continue while his South Norwood business – Yian 
the Barber – was closed.

“As barbers we play quite an important role in our communities, so myself and Lee thought it would be a great idea to keep in touch with our clients during times where many may be going through tough times, where they may feel depressed or lonely.

“During lockdown, you don’t know who needs someone to talk to. So it was about creating a space where anyone could have a conversation.

“We felt that it was our responsibility to create and help build our own community, although it 
was done via Zoom, it was so worth it,” says Yian, who had a barber in America join one of the sessions.

Yian, who re-opened his Portland Road premises in April when lockdown restrictions started to ease, was the first entrant to the Croydon Business Resilience Awards 2021 in the Local Lockdown Hero category.

With more restrictions easing, people returning to work and the barber shop re-opening, he is hoping to continue the virtual sessions on Instagram.

And things are also looking positive for his barber shop, which has been able to employ another two staff since reopening, taking the team up to four.

The closing date for awards entries is Friday, 2 July at 5pm. See the 2021 awards categories here 

Follow @yianthebarber on Instagram to keep up to date with news of the Virtual Barber Chair.