Salon Owners Spend Christmas Volunteering in Africa

Matthew and Emma Hellier of The Retreat in Bexhill-on-Sea went above and beyond the call of duty this Christmas, spending the festive season volunteering in Africa.

The duo flew to Iringa in Tanzania on Christmas Eve, where they spent time volunteering for FISCH (Future for Iringa Street Children) at a drop-in centre providing good, shelter, health care and education and visiting orphanages.

Putting to use skills honed in the salon, Matthew used his experience as a web designer to put together a database and networking systems and Emma's experience as an educator to teach Englush.

The highlight of  the trip was undoubtedly reuniting a homeless child - who had been assumed dead - with his family.

Matthew, a former winner of NHF Charity Worker of the Year, says: "Effectively bringing a child back from the dead could never have been expected, but what a way to end our time volunteering. We hope to be out there again in the future!"

Read more about Matthew and Emma's experience here.