Galashiels barber offers warmth and a haircut to city’s homeless

Luigi Caterino, of the Italian Job Barbershop in the town’s Channel Street, has teamed up with Edinburgh homeless organisation Streetwork to give free haircuts and beard trims to those who don’t have a home to go to this Christmas.

Luigi, who won a flurry of national awards when he opened up his shop, along with his employees Rachel Casson and Lucy Martin, is also organising the collection of hats, scarves and socks to keep them warm in the wintry streets.

He told us: “This year for Christmas I wanted to do something special that made me feel better within myself.

“I could have a holiday, a trip to Italy or Europe, or buy a new phone, but myself and my staff decided to do something really special.

“On December 22, my staff and I will be in Edinburgh, together with Streetwork, to cut hair and beards for our homeless friends that are around, and try to give them a better Christmas.

“Please support us with small donations ... we don’t want money, but scarves, socks, hats etc so that many of them will have a warm Christmas.

“Any donations will be accepted at the shop where we have a box set up.”