Hair Salon at Sarah Bonnell School

Fancy a new hair style for the weekend before you leave school on Friday?  Or perhaps you would enjoy a manicure or massage after a hard week's studying?  That's exactly what's available to students and staff at Sarah Bonnell school in Newham, London and it's all thanks to a social enterprise run by the students at the school.

The school noticed that many students were braiding and plaiting hair during lunch hours and between classes and some were so interested in this activity they were often late for lessons.  The school decided to capture this interest and enthusiasm and channel the energy into an enterprise where students could gain new skills as well as practicing what they were already good at.   They also believed that an enterprise such as this could help students gain confidence and help the school address some behavioural issues.

So a school hair salon was set up offering hair braiding and plaiting, straightening, Mendhi, facial threading, manicures, hand massage, aromatherapy and nail painting to students and staff of the school. 

The salon is overseen by a teacher and receives some support from an administrative officer.  Other than that the salon staff are all students with jobs ranging from managers, senior stylists, stylists, an aromatherapist, a PR officer, a receptionist and juniors.     

The salon is open once a week at lunchtime on Friday, though they are considering extending the opening hours.  Clients book appointments then or in two other break times during the week and receive an appointment card.  Trained senior and junior stylists provide the services while juniors, under the supervision of two managers, help the stylists and ensure the salon is kept clean and all materials are stored away between openings.   A receptionist takes cash payments and keeps manual records.  Income is passed to a member of the school administrative team for banking. 

There is a formal recruitment and selection procedure with job descriptions, application forms and interviews.   All staff appointed undertake a 6-week training programme delivered by a Science teacher who is a qualified beautician and by a Learning Mentor who is a qualified masseuse.

 

All the students work in the salon on a voluntary basis.  Why do they do it?  Well, they say it gives them the opportunity to practice skills they enjoy using and has led to improvements in their own sense of self-esteem and confidence, attendance and time-keeping as well as self-discipline. 

They have also received recognition for their work.  As well as winning an Excellence in the Cities award, the salon has featured in the local press and they have provided advice to other schools.  Given the success of the venture I'm sure that some of them will go on to have successful careers in hair and beauty and may even have their own salons one day.

Click here to learn more about the business model for this social enterprise.