Local stylist Gerri Keane and his team have celebrated the tenth anniversary of Dangerfield & Keane by becoming a dementia friendly business.
As part of its tenth anniversary celebrations, the salon has been supporting Dementia Forward which is this year celebrating its sixth anniversary.
On 12 April 2018, the team was joined by Netty Newell and Fiona Andrews from Dementia Forward who provided dementia friendly training to raise the team’s awareness and knowledge of the disease and its implications as well as helping them to sympathetically handle everyday situations with clients living with dementia, as well as those who care for them.
Netty Newell operations manger for Dementia Forward said:
As Dementia Forward celebrates its 6th birthday, the support of Dangerfield & Keane has been the most wonderful gift, and we cannot thank them enough.
We have developed a fabulous relationship with the team, who have not only provided sponsorship but have also taken the time to engage in dementia education and to spread the word about dementia awareness.
Singing For Fun is a wonderful, warm group that brings joy to many families affected by dementia and allows people to connect with others, express themselves and do something they love in a safe environment.
The team then attended Dementia Forward’s Singing for fun session at Christ Church, Harrogate, and Gerri presented the charity with a cheque for £1,000 as part of Dangerfield & Keane’s sponsorship which will see the salon provide funding of over £4,000 in the coming year to keep this vital weekly group meeting in action. Last November, the salon also hosted a fund-raising head shave for the charity.
Since opening in March 2008, Dangerfield & Keane has seen significant growth and now employs 15 staff, including five stylists who have been put through their Wella Master Colour Expert training by the salon.
Gerri said:
I can’t believe it’s ten years since we opened, it’s been an incredible journey and I’d like to thank all of our enthusiastic staff and loyal clients for their continued support.
Having been in hairdressing for 44 years, I understand how important it is that clients feel pampered and really enjoy their time with us and this is central to our success.
From having a genuinely friendly and talented team, to stylish surroundings, we want to make our clients feel indulged so that they look forward to visiting the salon.
We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved in establishing a successful business, continuing to grow the team and create more jobs, as well as extending our premises. We’ve recently signed another ten year lease on the building and have some more exciting improvements planned for the salon to enable us to continue to grow.
To mark our tenth anniversary year, we’re also making a significant donation to Dementia Forward and doing whatever way we can to help. It’s great to be able to give something back to the community by supporting a charity close to our hearts.
Gerri has worked for some of the biggest names in the industry from Wella Haircare UK and Steiner UK to managing the salon on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth II. In recent years, he has received national recognition from leading New York-based hair product supplier Bumble & bumble, part of the Estee Lauder Group of companies, with the salon being recognised as a prime example of ‘best business practice’. Gerri is a regular facilitator for Bumble & bumble, teaching salon business owners from across the UK and Europe as part of their ‘immersion’ courses and lectures held twice yearly in London. He regularly mentors other salon owners across the UK.
Netty Newell operations manger for Dementia Forward said:
Dangerfield & Keane’s generous donation means that the group can continue to thrive and provide a lifeline to so many people.
Dementia Forward currently supports over 700 families in the Harrogate & Ripon district alone, and as a small charity we rely on the generosity of the local community to enable us to carry out our vital work.
We hope that this fabulous show of support from Dangerfield & Keane will inspire other local businesses to come forward with ideas on how they can support our work and make a difference to the local community.
