Short Back & Sidewalks celebrates its volunteers this National Volunteer Week

This National Volunteer Week, Short Back & Sidewalks (SBSW) is celebrating its legion of dedicated volunteers around Australia.

Since beginning in 2015, hundreds of volunteers have contributed over 7,000 haircuts and more than 2,500 hours in conversation and connection with people experiencing homelessness and poverty who access our service.

This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week (20-26 May) is ‘something for everyone’. Founder Craig Hollywood believes everyone has the skills to volunteer.

“In the nine years since we started, we’ve had hundreds of volunteers contribute their skills and time to help get Short Back & Sidewalks to where we are today,” he said.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without our generous volunteers who use their diverse skill set to have a frontline impact on those in need.”

And SBSW CEO Natalie Jenkins agrees.

“As we’ve started rolling out our regional services, we’ve been amazed by all the new volunteers joining the call, and lending their skills to support people experiencing homelessness and poverty across Western Australia.

“Not only that, but our volunteers aren’t just the ones you see delivering the free haircuts. They’re also behind the scenes, scheduling services, onboarding volunteers and in a number of other important roles. 

“Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation, and this National Volunteer Week, we’d like say a heartfelt thank you for all that you contribute.”

Short Back & Sidewalks started out cutting hair in a car park in Northbridge in 2015, and has been built from the ground up by volunteers dedicated to its mission, providing haircuts free of charge and free of judgment to people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to highlight the important role of volunteers in our community and SBSW invites people not currently volunteering to give it a go. There is something for everyone.
For more information on current volunteering opportunities with SBSW, click here.