For some families, a haircut is one more expense in an already stretched budget.

Tauranga barber Spencer McNeil wants to change that, offering free cuts to children and helping stock local students with school essentials.

“Life can be hard, but if you feel good about yourself it takes a little bit of that edge off,” McNeil said.

In a social media post, McNeil said he would offer free haircuts to as many children as possible on Saturday from 9am to 2pm at Barber Spence & Co in Brookfield.

“I wanted to do something just before the kids get back to school because I feel like when kids look good and feel good about themselves, they perform well, show up and are present.”

The 22-year-old barber said the idea was born from seeing the pressure many families were under while juggling rising household costs.

“I had someone come into my store pretty much bawling their eyes out saying they were really struggling and I’ve had a lot of that recently.

“I’m only 22 years old, and for them to be able to feel trust in opening up to me, and seeing the hurt and emotion, you can actually tell it’s genuine.”

McNeil said the initiative “hit home” because he remembered growing up in a household where his mother could not always afford haircuts for him.

“It’s expensive, and especially with three or four kids, or even only one or two, you know, it adds up, but obviously barbershops still have to stay alive.”

McNeil said parents struggling to afford haircuts for their children were encouraged to come along, with no questions asked and no need to explain their circumstances.

“If I can help those parents out, I definitely will, and it can be as simple as cutting hair, it genuinely does take a lot of pressure off those families.

“It puts a smile on my face too seeing the happiness and a little bit of weight off their shoulders.”

Spencer McNeil, 22, of Brookfield’s Barber Spence & Co started barbering at the age of 15. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell

The free cuts will be offered on a walk-in basis, with no bookings and places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

“I’m just going to do as many free haircuts as I can, pump them out and make these kids feel good about themselves.

“Time is precious but if I can pour it into the right things and make someone else’s life easier, then I’m going to do that.”

The community-minded barber was recognised in March with a Judges Impact Award at the Tauranga Business Awards and the Youth Spirit Award at the Western Bay Community Awards.

He previously described the business award as a “massive wake-up call” that encouraged him to keep being himself and continue giving back to the community.

Alongside the free haircuts, the barbershop will host a koha (donation) sausage sizzle, with all proceeds going towards school essentials for children in need.

Funds raised will be used to buy uniforms, socks, shoes and stationery, which McNeil plans to distribute through local schools.

“It’s so these kids can put clothes on their backs, shoes on their feet and stationery on their desks,” he said.

“I’m doing it from the kindness of my heart so people can feel loved and feel like someone does care because I care, and I want to be a pillar for our community.”

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.