Do Something for Nothing: Seeing Beneath the Surface of Homelessness, Through the Simple Act of a Haircut - Paperback
by Joshua Coombes (Author)
"In this uplifting book, Coombes deftly illustrates how reaching out and listening can break down barriers in an often indifferent world." --Booklist Online
"Joshua's stories show the power that empathy and compassion have to turn a common, everyday act into something transformative. They are the revelations of connection." --Michael Sheen, actor and activist
When you're on the fringes of society, being noticed can mean everything.
In 2015, while working at a London hair salon, Joshua Coombes took to the streets with his scissors to build relationships with people sleeping rough in the capital. This inspired him to begin posting transformative images on social media to amplify their voices. These stories resonated and thousands of people got involved in their own way. #DoSomethingForNothing was born--a movement that encourages people to connect their skills and time to those who need it. Via the simple act of a haircut, readers are taken on a geographical and emotional journey into the lives of humans experiencing homelessness in different cities across the world.
Featuring never-before-seen photographs and all-new writing, Do Something for Nothing explores themes of love, acceptance, shame, and perseverance, while inviting us to see ourselves in one another and dissolve the negative stigmas surrounding homelessness. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to organizations dedicated to assisting unsheltered people.
Author Biography
Joshua Coombes is a British hairstylist and founder of #DoSomethingForNothing--a movement encouraging people to connect their skills and time to those who need it. When Coombes launched the project in 2015, his intention was to positively impact people's lives by offering free haircuts to those experiencing homelessness. Coombes's mission caught the attention of media outlets in Europe and has rippled worldwide. Coverage includes appearing in National Geographic's new series The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman, released on Netflix internationally. Today, Coombes continues his efforts in new countries, humanizing this issue globally. He currently resides in London, UK.