Roo Jackman decided to finally get his hair cut and donate it to charity after fears of overstimulation. Finn Macdiarmid reports
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00:00Can you tell me the story of why you started to grow your hair out?
00:05Because I want to raise it to charity.
00:09Now, it might be hard to believe, but two years ago, Ruben, or as he likes to be called, Roo,
00:13became afraid of getting his hair cut.
00:16He has ADHD, an autism spectrum disorder,
00:18so the sensory overstimulation of being touched, hair falling across his face,
00:22and the sounds of scissors in his ears was too much for him.
00:25Since then, he's grown his hair out, and with the help of his mum, Amy,
00:28decided to fundraise and donate his hair towards the Little Princess Trust.
00:32He became fearful of having his hair cut, and it started to grow out.
00:36And then, it's very long now, and it makes him hot, and it's tangly,
00:42and we said, you know, maybe it's time to think about having it cut off, it's very long.
00:47And at the beginning, he didn't really like the idea, but, you know, we talked to him more,
00:51and then we showed him suggestions of, you know, instead of just throwing his beautiful hair away,
00:57actually that it could be donated to somebody, and treasured by somebody.
01:03The fundraised money currently stands at £800, and will go towards the Little Princess Trust as well,
01:08while Roo's hair will be used to make wigs for those who've lost theirs
01:11due to cancer treatment or other conditions.
01:14But Roo's former dislike of going to the barbers isn't rare,
01:17with many who have additional needs struggling to get their hair cut.
01:20In fact, it's such a big problem that families with neurodivergent children from London, Essex,
01:25and all over the country have come down here to Maidstone,
01:28simply because it's that difficult to find an accommodating barber.
01:32The Hairy Bear does things slightly differently though,
01:34whether that's giving a child goggles so they don't have to feel hair going across their face,
01:38or even giving haircuts at the tops of slides.
01:41I asked Martin, one of the barbers at Hairy Bear,
01:43why they started offering longer slots to accommodate those with neurodivergencies.
01:48It's things like pictures on the wall they give me from that young kid who's been with me for a year.
01:54Very awkward to start off with, but now enjoys, loves to come and get his hair cut.
01:57So now one year of anniversary, come and see me, dreamy little note.
02:01It means immense to them.
02:02They find satisfaction in their child actually getting a haircut,
02:05rather than skinhead, to be honest with you.
02:07And the gratitude is seeing the kids come back not scared anymore and smiling all the time.
02:12Parents have said that haircuts can be especially difficult,
02:14both for their children and for them.
02:16So hopefully, Roo will be one of many children who feel they can get their haircut
02:20and raise money for charity all at the same time.
02:23Finn McDermid for KMTV in Maidstone.