Beauty with a Conscience recognised at national awards

A community project run by Glasgow Clyde College and the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice has been Highly Commended at a national awards ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament.

The ‘Beauty with a Conscience’ social enterprise beat off stiff competition from salons and barbershops across the UK to receive a Highly Commended in the Community Impact category at the Hair and Beauty Community Awards.

Beauty with a Conscience offers high quality, ethical beauty treatments at the same time as raising vital funds for one of Scotland’s most loved charities.

The salon and retail outlet on Battlefield Road also provides valuable on the job work experience for Glasgow Clyde College’s beauty students who carry out the beauty treatments, including manicures and pedicures, eyelash and eyebrow shaping, and make-up and facial waxing as part of its services.

Since its inception in December, the project has already raised a significant sum for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice and is now a central part of the local community.

Julie Wales, Head of Curriculum Hairdressing, Beauty and Complementary Therapies, said: “Beauty with a Conscience is a wonderful initiative that we are proud to be a part of. The opportunity that working within a live retail environment gives to our students is vital in their understanding of the industry and business and what it means to be part of a community.

“Hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons are often at the heart of small communities. It’s great to see them being rewarded for their hard-work and we are over the moon that Beauty with a Conscience has been recognised in the community impact category.”

Ann Loughrey of the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice said, “Beauty treatments can be seen as an indulgence but every single client is contributing to a vital community resource as well. That makes this salon a win/win scenario for all concerned.”    

It was revealed Beauty with a Conscience was Highly Commended at a reception at the Houses of Parliaments which was attended by the Minister for Small Business, Kelly Tolhurst, and MPs who were there to learn more about the sectors and the contribution salons and barbershops make to their local community.