Mayor Anjna Khurana with staff at Charlie Barbers – and customer Sertan Hassan getting a free haircut

A BARBER shop was giving out free trims on Wednesday to raise money for Islington mayor’s charity of the year.

Customers in need of a haircut, beard trim, or hot towel shave were invited to Charlie Barbers in Clerkenwell and encouraged to donate to the Brickworks Community Centre. Canny Turkak, who set up the shop two years ago, said the fundraiser was a great way to help a community that has supported them.

He said: “We can be a role model to other businesses as well, we can all come together.”

Mayor Anjna Khurana said she was “so happy” when Mr Turkak contacted the council saying that they wanted to support the centre.

She added: “This is the first thing like this, which is incredible. One of the mottos for Islington Council is that ‘we serve’, and this is serving the community. It’s such a great example. We’re such a great and strong community all over Islington.”

Sertan Hassan, who was having his haircut when the Tribune visited, said the fundraiser might even make him reconsider his choice of hairstylist.

He said: “This is the first time I’ve been to Charlie Barbers. I used to go to a local one round my way, so I thought, ‘all right I’m going to give it a go and contribute toward Brickworks charity as well.’”

Cllr Khurana said the money raised would help Brickworks buy a fridge for the food bank, a projector screen, new chairs and a coach for their “holiday play scheme” trips.