Hartlepool hair salon makes a stand against bullying as it covers front window with kindness pledges

The windows of At Ladies Room, in Hartlepool’s Vision Retail Park, have been covered in hundreds of anti-bullying pledges from people of all ages in Hartlepool after the salon embarked on a new campaign to spread positivity in the town.

Each pledge contains a kind message written on a piece of paper in the shape of a hand with more than 200 sent in in just two weeks as primary schools, businesses and salon clients joined the effort.

Salon owner Kirsty Wearmouth has said negative comments online and offline could have a huge impact on people’s well-being, especially after a tough year due to the pandemic, and has encouraged everyone to support each other.

People are asked to do a hand with a kind message and drop it off at the salon where it will be displayed.

Kirsty said: “We’ve received negative comments about our salon.

“We just felt this is the right time because the year that we’ve had, every business has suffered.

"You need your clients more than ever, but you also need the support of other business people, like-minded people, so you can help each other and recommend each other.

“We’re seeing a lot of online trolling against other businesses and we just feel like that should not be happening.

"Everybody’s worked hard to get where we are and we should just be supporting and celebrating each other’s success.

“We need to uplift each other and give each other a pat on the back.”

Kirsty has said they’ve been ‘shocked’ by the support from people, schools and businesses as they “all made a pledge to support each other and wished each other well”.

She continued: "We want to keep going for as long as possible.

"We’re just asking people to take a step back and think about things before they post something.

"Or even when they say something to someone when they’re out. It’s not just online.“

General manager Michaela Porritt added: “It’s about all ages.

"The response from primary schools has been amazing. But even our clients are asking what the hands are in the windows and say ‘Oh, can I do one, I hate bullying.’

A trolley at the salon is also currently being filled with donations for food banks.

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