Liz McKeon has recently been announced as Ambassador for Shear Haven anti-domestic violence salon training in the UK and Ireland.
According to the Office for National Statistics, police in the UK recorded 259,324 domestic abuse offences between March and June 2020, a 7% increase on the same period in 2019. During and after the first lockdown in April, May and June, roughly one-fifth of offences involved domestic abuse.
Salon stylists and therapists and spa professionals have a unique relationship with their clients. The women and men behind the chair are in the perfect position to hear about and see the signs of domestic violence. But many may not have known how to respond. In 2017 YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee and volunteer Susanne Post, a Nashville-based salon owner, stylist, and survivor of domestic violence developed Shear Haven education programme, training salons and stylists in anti-domestic violence training.
A survivor of domestic violence, Susanne is committed to educating the community on the signs of abuse and the resources available to help women and men who are victims. This domestic violence education program equips stylists with the knowledge and resources to recognise the signs of domestic violence, successfully navigate conversations with clients who may be in danger, and pass along tools that can help them get to safety.
The training consists of a 20-minute online session followed by a short quiz. After completion, each participant will receive a personalised certificate of achievement. A few months into the pandemic, Barbicide – the industry leader in safety – teamed up with Susanne and the YWCA to offer the Shear Haven training online. To date, more than 25,000 beauty professionals from around the world have taken the training.
