Skincare expert - and HELLO! superfan - Caroline Hirons has launched Beauty Backed - a fundraising campaign to provide financial aid and support to beauty businesses that are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. Supported by industry experts and influencers, as well as The British Beauty Council and BABTAC, Beauty Backed's number one goal is to raise money and support for the clinics, aestheticians, makeup artists, and therapists unable to work due to the government’s recent ban on close-contact services in the wake of lockdown.
DONATE FOR BEAUTY BACKED VIA GOFUNDME
In an emotional video on IGTV, Caroline Hirons shared the story of how the initiative started: "I texted my business partner Alex and said 'Al, we have to do something for these people that aren't earning any money. I have friends who are going bust, I have friends that have lost businesses, we have to do something. Where do we start?'" She added: "We cannot keep letting our industry be left behind when so many people have fallen through the cracks."
WATCH: Caroline tell her fans all about Beauty Backed
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She visibly got upset when she read out various letters from people who work in the beauty industry who have been financially impacted by the lockdown, and are still struggling.
So how can you help? Visit the Beauty Backed Go Fund Me page to donate - 100% of your donations will be dispersed via the Hair and Beauty Charity who in turn donate to the individuals and businesses who apply for help to stay afloat whilst the restrictions are still in place.
Lesley Blair from BABTAC Chair, says: "We are delighted to support Caroline Hirons and together with Millie Kendal be part of this brilliant initiative. We hope that by working together, we raise money for those in such desperate need, and awareness of the lack of ongoing financial support that we are facing as an industry. Beauty Backed was created from the now essential need to support our therapists in the beauty industry who have suffered long enough because of their continued inability to work during Covid-19; The impact of the lockdown has been absolutely crippling to the hair and beauty sector, which in the UK alone is worth around £30Billion. There is still so much uncertainty for many in our industry so this campaign could not have come at a better time. As one of the only industries to be supporting the high street’s decline the impact is far wider than just our industry itself. The contribution our industry provides to consumers own morale and mental and physical wellness should also not be underestimated."