Razwan Amin, 27, a former student of Erdington Academy who grew up struggling to afford haircuts, is now giving back by providing free styling to current students through a partnership with the school's Parent, Teacher and Friends Association (PTFA).
From Struggles to Success
Amin, who left Erdington Academy in 2015, founded Razortrim Studio in 2022, which has since become one of Birmingham's busiest hair studios. The shop regularly hosts work experience students from his old school. Now, in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis, Amin is offering free haircuts—usually costing £18—to students from low-income families referred by the PTFA.
"My family was low-income when I was growing up," Amin said. "I used to be on free school meals and my parents struggled to get me into a barber shop because of the cost of living. With schools about to break up for the summer, families can feel the cost of living more, with no free school meals and activities to find, so this gives them a little more support and a fresh new look for the summer."
Impact on Students
Around 56 per cent of students at Erdington Academy are eligible for free school meals, highlighting the high levels of deprivation in the area. Amin explains that a simple haircut can boost a child's confidence and mental health. "A simple haircut really does help a child's mental health – looking fresh for school can really raise their confidence and eagerness to learn. It's just a small change, but it goes a long way."
Nicki Kansara, chair of Erdington Academy's PTFA and a school governor, praised the initiative. "In my roles at Erdington Academy, I've seen many of the different struggles the children face firsthand. The cost of living has been affecting so many people, not just pupil premium students. That's why this link with Razwan is so powerful. He's helping them out by providing a free service that will raise their confidence and connect them with the community. And at the same time, there's potential for Razwan to inspire the children as an Erdington alumnus – he shows them that they can go from the school and make it in the real world."
An Inspiring Example
Amin originally considered offering a free haircut for prom as a raffle prize but decided to expand the offer. "At first, we thought about offering a free haircut for prom as a raffle prize, but I wanted to do more and extend it so that every child from a low-income background could have a haircut. I said, 'bring them all in!'"
Esa, Nicki's son and a current student at Erdington Academy, has already taken advantage of the offer. He said, "Razwan went to Erdington Academy and now he's a successful businessman, so he makes me realise I can be successful as well. It's empowering."
Amin hopes his story will motivate others. "As someone who left Erdington Academy and went on to become a successful businessman, I also want to inspire the students and show them they can go on to start their own business and flourish."
