“How are you? Okay? Happy to see you.” MP Yip Hon Weng greeted an elderly Malay couple as he went around with the mobile hairdressing service in his Yio Chu Kang constituency early this month (July 5). The service, organised with the help of volunteer hairdressers, provides free haircutting services to residents who are elderly and infirm.
Mr and Mrs Abul Bakar are in their sixties. Mrs Bakar cares for her husband, who has been using a wheelchair since losing a leg a while back. The couple were able to have their hair conveniently dressed at their home.
The mobile haircut service, launched by the PAP Yio Chu Kang branch three years ago, doubles up as a house visit. The couple shared their concerns with Mr Yip, and he assured them that he and his team would follow up on the issues.
A volunteer hairdresser then helped them get a fresh haircut.
“We realised some residents may have difficulty leaving their flats or cannot afford salon haircuts,” Mr Yip told Petir. “At the same time, we found retired hairdressers who wanted to contribute to society.”
“So, we thought it was a useful and brilliant initiative to get more volunteers for residents to help those that are in need in the community. And that’s how this mobile haircut programme was conceived.”
Volunteer hairdressers offer their ad-hoc services to provide haircuts. They serve approximately 15 residents every month. Beneficiaries of this programme include seniors and individuals with mobility challenges, such as those confined to wheelchairs or suffering from conditions like motor neuron disease.
Mr Yip explained: “We usually call the residents up [to arrange a date] and we bring our hairdressers to their house to do the haircut itself. There are approximately 30 to 40 beneficiaries.”
The volunteer team includes eight hairdressers: six residents and two activists. Volunteer drivers transport these hairdressers across the constituency.
The psychological benefits from a new haircut cannot be underestimated. Residents feel fresher, groomed and cared for, as a valued member of the community. Indeed, the positive, happy feelings extend to the volunteers.
Herlina Ng, a volunteer hairdresser who learned her skills through a SkillsFuture course, has been providing haircuts to residents since last year. “I enjoy engaging with seniors, they can’t move, and can’t easily visit the salon. So, I bring my services to them and cut their hair. It is meaningful.”
Another volunteer, Amy Gao, a naturalised Singaporean, said that she decided to volunteer because Mr Yip met these residents during his home visits and they do need help. “We are doing our part for the society, helping those in need.”
Mdm Sng Heng Guek, in her seventies and suffering from Parkinson’s disease, said that it is a good initiative as it allows her to save money on haircuts, and eliminates the inconvenience of leaving her home, as did another resident, Mdm Habsah who thanked Mr Yip for launching this programme, saying: “I am happy to cut my hair monthly.”
Looking ahead, Mr Yip hopes to expand the initiative further by recruiting more volunteers and beneficiaries to participate in this programme.
