'Hairdressers are like counsellors in many ways'
North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot)A hairdressing lecturer has been hailed for her work supporting cancer and dementia patients as well as homeless people.
Lisa Charles, a teacher at Nescot College in Ewell was handed a silver award for Further Education Lecturer of the Year by the Pearson National Teaching Awards.
Lisa, who has taught for 13 years, was chosen from thousands of nominees and is in the running for a gold award which will be announced later this year on BBC One's The One Show.
Lisa said: "You're an untrained counsellor in so many ways in a salon."
Lisa has supported her students by setting up partnerships which also help the local community.
She created a pop up hair and beauty salon to give children and young people who are going through chemotherapy and their families at London's Royal Marsden Hospital a bit of relaxation and pampering.
She said: "As a hairdresser or beauty therapist you're not prepared for some of those conversations that you are going to have.
"Many years ago it was one in six people who had cancer and obviously now it's one in two."
Lisa issued a huge thank you to the Royal Marsden for welcoming her students and helping them develop invaluable skills.
She said: "It's had a massive impact on their professionalism and confidence."
Through Lisa's work, her students have also helped boost homeless people's self esteem with haircuts at nearby shelter.
Lisa has taken students to work in local hospitals where they can offer haircuts to dementia patients.
Nescot principal and CEO Julie Kapsalis said: "I'm incredibly proud of our work with hospitals and charities.
"In these settings, it can feel like much more than a haircut, as it offers those going through tough times a bit of positivity, connection and hope."
Reanna Chambers, one of her former students at Nescot added: "She went beyond just delivering lessons - she was a mentor, support system and a constant source of guidance for all of us."
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