Free food and haircuts as local businesses offer helping hands to the less fortunate

Ahmed Lixon - owner of Studio 2 barbers

Three local businesses are doing their bit to ensure no one goes hungry this Christmas as they pledge to provide free food and free haircuts to both homeless people and refugees in Rochdale.

Ahmed Hussain Lixon, the owner of Studio 2 barbers, is teaming up with local restaurant Pavilion 2 on Wednesday 21 December to give out complementary haircuts at the studio, where homeless people and refugees will be able to have their hair cut and leave with a serving of warm curry, rice and a drink.

Mr Lixon said: "It’s great that people donate to nationwide and international causes, but we wanted to help out on a more local level. We see people suffering essentially on our doorstep and we wanted to help them out directly.

"It’s the first time we’ve done this but if it goes well I’d love to make it a monthly event."

In addition to the curry and haircut scheme, Pennine Solicitors will be joining forces with charity Petrus to run a soup kitchen outside its head office on Drake Street on Friday 16 December. The firm will be give out soup and bread rolls as well as clothing such as scarves, hats and gloves to the homeless people of Rochdale.

Naser Ali, the principle solicitor at Pennine Solicitors, told Rochdale Online: "With winter upon us we think it is important to help out and do something to keep the less fortunate from being hungry and cold."

Clothing donations can be delivered to the Pennine Solicitors office at 136 Drake Street.