A BARBER who won the hearts of the nation by offering haircuts to the homeless has taken his mission to the streets – and he’s not stopping there.

Ged King grabbed social media’s attention when his Facebook promotion offering free haircuts to homeless people and jobseekers at his shop, Skullfades Barbers, in Washway Road, Sale, went viral.

Ged, who was in the army before becoming a barber, was inspired to offer the service when he read about the shocking number of veterans left homeless after leaving the military.

And for the past six months, Ged has also been quietly making trips into Manchester city centre, giving up his free time to give haircuts to people living on the streets.

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The Mancunian Tribe Series and addiction coaches have teamed up with barber Ged King to help the homeless in Manchester. Image: Jenny Winstone

“It’s not just a haircut. That makes them feel better but it’s the human contact that’s important. It’s about taking care, not rushing, looking after them, talking,” said Ged.

After hearing about Ged’s selfless work, photographer Jenny Winstone, of The Mancunian Tribe Series, wanted to get involved and document the difference being made.

Jenny aims to celebrate compassion and kindness of ordinary Mancunians through her documentary series.

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Ged King, of Skullfades Barber Shop, with Donna Barton

She said: “We celebrate what Manchester is good at and not in a rosy sort of way. We understand there are negative and sad things that happen in society but it’s how you respond to them that makes the difference.

"My focus is on finding people in the community doing great things and really talented people – as it so happens, Ged falls into both these camps.”

Jenny used her contacts to get addiction coaches on board with the project.

Now every two weeks, the team take to the streets and shelters of Manchester to help the homeless, building their confidence, hearing their stories and offering advice on getting back on their feet.

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Barber Ged King gives up his free time to cut homeless people's hair in Manchester

Ged said: “They have to lift their heads up for the haircut and I say, ‘keep your head up now, you look good,’ and once they are in that state of mind, it is the perfect time for the coaches to step in and help give people some very real plans.

“The best response we had was when a bloke got his hair cut and was with one of the addiction coaches for half an hour; by the time he was finished he was shouting ‘I’m getting off the streets!’. They are absolutely buzzing.”

And Ged’s mission doesn’t stop there. He is organising a sleep out on the streets of Sale on Sunday October 30 to raise funds for Manchester’s homeless.

“This event will help people truly understand what sleeping on the pavement is really like,” he said.

“At the end you get to return to your home with a very real understanding of life on our streets.”

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Barber Ged King gives up his free time to cut homeless people's hair in Manchester

Ged is also running a winter appeal at his shop and is asking for donations of rucksacks, sleeping bags and essentials, which will be handed out to the city’s homeless community in November.

Yorkshire Dubs will be sending a convoy to Sale with 300 rucksacks on November 6.

To take part in the sponsored sleepout, call into the shop or phone 0161 973 0184.

Rucksack donations for the winter appeal can be dropped into the shop or to make a cash donation, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ged-king.