Founder of the lions barber collective nominated for national diversity award

Tom Chapman, a Torquay-based barber and founder of mental health charity The Lions Barber Collective (LBC), has been nominated for National Diversity Awards 2020 in the Positive Role Model category. The awards, which will take place on 25 September, highlight Britain’s most inspirational and selfless individuals and groups from grassroots communities. The event recognises nominees in their respective fields of diversity, including age, disability, gender, race, faith/religion and sexual orientation. In the gender category, Chapman has been recognised for his work in suicide prevention. The LBC’s aim is to create safe, non-judgemental spaces for men to talk about their mental health in the barbering chair, and Chapman’s work has enabled him to train hair professionals to look out for their clients with a four-part strategy called BarberTalk; encouraging them to recognise, ask, listen and help. Chapman first founded LBC in 2015 after losing a friend to suicide. Since then, he has spent over four years working on training and awareness and gave up his salon to devote time to over 200 barbers. LBC hopes to train hair professionals in the UK and make BarberTalk a mandatory part of the hair and beauty curriculum, arming barbers and hairdressers up and down the country with the knowledge to support those suffering with their mental health. Speaking about the nomination, Chapman said: “When I got the email through to tell me I was nominated I was shocked! To be nominated for a huge national award in the positive role model category isn't something I was expecting, I'm used to being inside the hair and beauty industry bubble. The nomination alone is a huge accomplishment." Nominations are now open and close May 18th 2020 and shortlisted nominees will be announced shortly afterwards. Make your vote here.