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Barber who ran Covid foodbank still donating food

Alice Bhandhukravi
BBC Ziggy cutting a customer's hair. He is smiling as he cuts hair, and Ziggy is wearing black top, with the customer sitting down.BBC
Ziggy had to close his barber shop when lockdown started

When lockdown started in 2020, Ziggy Myers had to close Progress Barbers - the business he'd run for more than 20 years - because restrictions meant he could no longer serve his customers.

Instead he decided to serve his community in a different way: by feeding them.

He used his own money to buy groceries for those he knew were in need.

"I started very small, just doing little bits and pieces, and as time go on, I get to know more people, more people get involved and it grew and grew until it's got to a stage I could reach out to 3,000 people a week."

Louis at the barbers. He is sitting in a chair with a black cape covering his shoulders. The barber is trimming his hair at the top of his head with a pair of scissors.
Louis said everyone "trusted Ziggy to get the food to the people who needed it"

When customer Louis Howell saw what Ziggy was doing, he decided to set up a GoFundme so that he could contribute to Ziggy's effort.

"If I was going to the shops I'd buy an extra bag and drop it in, and I saw other people doing the same thing which was amazing," said Louis.

"We felt compelled to do these things because we thought if Ziggy can, at a time when the government has effectively taken away his livelihood, yet he chose to do this, then it's the least we can do.

"We trusted Ziggy to get the food to the people who needed it."

Wayne Lawrence wearing a flat cap and sunglasses, in dark clothing, smiling outside Progress Barbers, standing next to stables stacked with groceries.
Wayne Lawrence delivers food from the foodbank using his van

Also joining Ziggy, was friend Wayne Lawrence.

Mr Lawrence used his van to deliver the food.

"I've always wanted to give back in some way, so I'm happy."

Ziggy was given a Mayor's Award for Volunteering from City Hall in recognition of what he did during Covid.

But Ziggy believes it's a community effort.

He said: "It's never just one person even though it might start from one person, it comes from the community."

Kayode Damali is sitting down, wearing dark green puffer jacket and a black hat with the slogan "LLOW IT". He is smiling at the camera.
Kayode Damali says Ziggy is a role model in the community

But his volunteering efforts have not gone unnoticed and he's become a hero to local residents.

Customer Kayode Damali said: "For people like Ziggy they do it from the bottom of their hearts, regardless of getting any recognition.

"Ziggy is a role model for all of us."

Ziggy Myers stands outside his barber shop. Next to him is a stand displaying boxes of fruit, including red apples, yellow banana and other items. Ziggy is wearing a black top and black trousers.
Ziggy says now they are helping working people who can't afford food once their bills are paid

Five years on, Ziggy and Wayne are still giving donations to up 1,500 people a week, in collaboration with the food redistribution charity FareShare.

Ziggy said: "I'm helping each and everyone, even people who are working, because the price of electric has gone up, the price of water bills has gone up."

His friend Wayne added: "It was big in Covid, but when everything was back to normal [when lockdown ended], we thought everything would be alright but it grew so that's why I felt compelled to help.

"I'd love to keep doing it, but I wish the need wasn't there."

As for Ziggy, he has no plans to give up just yet.

"It's the right thing to do, so we just keep going."

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