A place at the table.
The first free Christmas event took place on 25 December 2022 at The Drink Valley, Swindon. The original website reports that nearly 60 people were fed. Volunteers helped create a day with food, company and gifts.
THE ROUTE 8 COMMUNITY STORY
Community projects & Christmas meals.
A haircut can be a small act of kindness. Route 8 also organises meals, food collections and practical support for people who need a helping hand.
Get involved
A SIMPLE REASON TO SHOW UP
Good people. Practical help.
Route 8's community work has grown from the belief that people should not be forgotten because they are homeless, elderly, struggling financially or going through a difficult part of life.
The original barbershop became a base for helping where possible. That has included haircuts for people living on the street or in hostels, trips to help people who are unwell or housebound, local fundraising, food parcels and collaborating with other organisations.
The aim is not to make those receiving help feel like a project. It is to offer time, a skill and a welcoming attitude without judgement. Route 8 and supporters have also looked for ways to help younger people and those who have experienced crime find a practical trade through barber training.
As the business has grown beyond Swindon, it has looked at ways to carry that approach into other communities. The individual projects deserve to be documented with real dates, original photographs, supporters and consent from everyone involved.
BEYOND THE BARBER CHAIR / SWINDON
Never spend the day alone if we can help.
Christmas can be difficult when you have nowhere to go or no one to share the day with. Route 8, Justi's Hair and Beauty, volunteers and local supporters have worked to bring people together over food and conversation.
More meals, more hands.
The Christmas work continued with support from the local community and Justi's Hair and Beauty. Route 8's published record says nearly 140 meals were provided in 2024.
Nearly 200 meals.
Route 8's 2025 update records nearly 200 meals. The organisers thanked those who contributed food, money, time and other help. These numbers are historical published figures, not live event statistics.
The original website also mentions 2023. Further original photos, venue information and details of each year's organisers should be confirmed directly with Route 8 before publication.
OTHER COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Help takes different forms.
Route 8 has described fundraising for a young person's volunteer travel, donations supporting dementia-related causes, free haircuts for homelessness support organisations and practical help through local partners.
Its community work has also included food parcels, with support from individuals and local donors. The shop's published approach has been to contribute what it can, while encouraging organisations to get in touch if barbering services would help the people they support.
Projects supporting young people and people affected by crime connect with the business's training offer. The aim is to help somebody develop a trade and a route towards work, rather than simply focus on a single haircut.
Free haircutsSupport for people experiencing homelessness and other difficult circumstances, subject to arrangements.
Home visitsPreviously described for sick, elderly and housebound people in Swindon and Bristol.
Food and companyChristmas meals, food parcels and local volunteers.
Skills and chancesBarbering programmes and support for people who want to build a career.
Want to help or work together?
If your charity or community organisation supports people who would benefit from barbering, contact Route 8 to discuss what may be possible. Availability, capacity and safeguarding requirements need to be agreed individually.