Razwan Amin, 27, a former pupil of Erdington Academy in Birmingham, has swapped the classroom for clippers and is now offering free haircuts to low-income students. After leaving the academy in 2015 and setting up Razortrim Studio, Amin decided to give back to his alma mater by tackling the cost-of-living crisis one haircut at a time. The academy, which serves an area with higher-than-average deprivation, has over 50% of students eligible for free school meals - so Amin's offer is less a luxury and more a lifeline.

"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," Amin said, speaking the kind of truth that doesn't need a study to back it up. He teamed up with the school's parent teacher association to identify students in need, moving from a raffle prize idea to a full-blown "bring them all in" policy.

Amin knows the struggle firsthand: "My family was low-income when I was growing up. 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." He also notes that school holidays are particularly tough, with no free meals and activities to fill the time, making his offer a little extra support.

Nicki Kansara, chair of Erdington Academy's Parent, Teacher and Friends Association and a school governor, praised the initiative: "In my roles at Erdington Academy, I've seen many of the different struggles the children face first-hand. The cost of living has been affecting so many people, not just pupil premium students." Kansara added that Amin's success story could inspire students to believe they too can make it in the real world.

Kansara's son Esa, a student at Erdington, has already taken advantage of the offer. "When I get my hair cut, I feel like a new man, and it makes me feel more confident in general," he said, adding that seeing Amin's journey from student to successful businessman is "empowering." So, while a haircut might seem trivial, it turns out a little off the top can go a long way toward building confidence - and maybe even the next generation of local business owners.