Cubs and Kings Barbers

🎉 Congratulations to our Swansgate Community Champion, Kyle Newcombe! 🎉

After an outpouring of votes from the local community, Kyle has won £200, which he’ll be using to buy new balls and kit for his inclusive U16s football team this season! ⚽✨

From running Cubs and Kings Barbers to support local families, to putting on weekly football sessions for men’s mental health, refereeing for the Northants FA Heads Up League, and creating an inclusive U16s team for children with SEND needs, Kyle gives up his evenings and weekends entirely unpaid to lift others up.

A massive thank you to everyone who voted, and an even bigger thank you to Kyle for making our community a better, kinder place every single day. You are a legend! 🏆👏

Evening all -

Quick update on opening hours.

As some are aware Kyle has been covering Mondays and Tuesdays for a while since losing his dad and not working full time; but the time has come for him to go back to work (as the shop is not for profit - savings don’t last forever!)

He is starting a new job on Monday. So there will be a change to opening hours and who’s in.

Sam will be taking the Mondays back on (at least throughout the holidays, but we will be closing Tuesdays).

So opening hours from this Monday onwards will be:

Monday - 9.30-5.30 (Sam)
Tuesday - CLOSED
Wednesday - CLOSED
Thursday - 9.30-5.30 (Sam)
Friday - 9.30-5.30 (Sam)
Saturday - 9-5.30 (Sam and Kyle)
Sunday - 10-4 SEN sessions (Sam)

Kyle will still be doing mobiles early evenings and weekends around work. And once settled may consider doing a late night opening 4-7pm on a Friday teatime/evening if there is a need (like we used to). *this will be confirmed.

Apologies for any inconvenience - but it’s necessary to keep doing what we do whilst maintaining the shop as not for profit.

If theres any questions please pop us a message. The diaries have been amended 🦁💈

If this nomination has come from any of our customers - thank you.

Made my day seeing this and feel grateful.

If anyone has the time to vote - would appreciate it - link in comments to like the original nomination. With a cash prize up for grabs - it would be put to good use for any SEND events, the football sessions and/or charity ❤️🦁

Kyle is still looking for some additional players for his clubs U16s team this season to fill the squad.

Both girls and boys aged 14/15 - all positions considered.

Looking for a new challenge, not getting game time at your current club - get in touch.

Training Tuesday and Thursdays 5.30-7pm in wellingborough.

Qualified coaches - Kyle, Luke and Matti.
Sponsors confirmed, kit locked in, home pitch secured.

Come and join the pride 🦁💈
Queensway United FC under 16 Lions.

🦁 THE STORY – THE HEART BEHIND CUBS & KINGS BARBERS 🦁

People often ask me how Cubs & Kings started.
The truth is, it wasn't born from a business plan. It came from lived experience, frustration, heartbreak, determination, and a promise to someone special.

As many of you know, I have two autistic, non-verbal children.
For years, haircuts were one of the biggest challenges we faced. I tried cutting their hair at home because I didn't want them to grow up resenting barbers or associating haircuts with fear and anxiety. But every attempt became a battle.
There were times I was bitten, punched, kicked, scratched and attacked while trying to get through a haircut. Not because my children were naughty, but because they were overwhelmed, frightened and struggling with the sensory experience of being touched. The hair on them, the noise the equipment made.
We tried countless barbers.
Some claimed to be SEND-friendly (although this is something most places just say as it sounds good or looks good for advertising purposes).
Some said they were trained in SEND. (That’s great you have a qualification, but do you have the patience, understanding, empathy and persona?)

Unfortunately, most weren't equipped, personable enough or skilled to be able to deal with the realities of children with additional needs.

Even a well-known children's barbers even refused to rebook us because my children were considered "too difficult."

As a parent, that hurt.

I was made to feel embarrassed and ashamed because my children became anxious and distressed in an environment that was simply too overwhelming for them.
That experience stayed with me.

I knew there had to be a better way.

Around the same time, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly, it spread, and during some of our conversations I spoke to her about the idea of creating a different kind of barbering service.

She immediately understood.

Having spent her entire career working within children's social services and supporting children with SEND, she absolutely loved the idea.
She believed in it before anyone else did. Believed in me enough to know I’d make it happen.
In the later stages of her illness, she made me promise that when the time came and I received the inheritance she knew she would leave behind, I would use some of it to make this dream happen.
Without her, there wouldn't be a Cubs & Kings.
In many ways, this business is part of her legacy.

Because I understand the struggles families face, particularly those with children who have SEND diagnoses, I never wanted this to be just another barber shop.

I wanted it to be something bigger.

Something that supports people.

Something that gives families hope.
Something that removes judgement and replaces it with understanding.

We are more than a barbers.

We support children, adults, parents and carers with far more than just haircuts.
We take our time.
We listen.
We adapt.
We change our approach.
We tailor every service to the individual sitting in our chair.

When we opened the shop, we quickly realised there were still many people unable to access us.
After speaking with carers and staff from supported living services about transport difficulties and staffing shortages, we invested in a van and converted it into a mobile barbering service.
Now we travel to people's homes, supported living facilities, care settings, SEND schools and children's homes.
We do everything possible to make haircuts easier, more enjoyable and less stressful.
Our goal is always the same: to help people move from fear and anxiety to acceptance, tolerance and, eventually, confidence.

Some of the children who once couldn't sit for a haircut now ask when they can come back.
Those moments mean everything.

Over the years we've also provided free cuts for The Princess Trust and offered support to mums and grandparents undergoing medical treatments that affect their hair.
I've visited homeless centres and provided free haircuts for people who needed a helping hand.
We've seen families struggling financially and having to decide which child could afford a haircut that month.
When we've seen it, we've helped.
Sometimes that has meant cutting multiple children's hair and only charging for one.
Because that's what community is all about.
Any profit we make beyond overheads and staff wages goes straight back into helping people.
Whether that's through charitable donations, community events, or fundraising efforts such as the charity skydive I completed a few years ago.
It's helped us put on annual firework displays, SEND Santa at Christmas, give out chocolate eggs over Easter and support countless local initiatives.

A few years into the business, we sadly lost several dads connected to our community through su***de and mental health struggles.
It hit us hard.
So, alongside some incredible local dads, we created Queensway United FC.
A Sunday league football team built around friendship, support and men's mental health.
Several dads from the shop now play for the team, and we're proud to sponsor it through Cubs & Kings.

I have now expanded on this and am offering the same supported living settings, children’s homes and respite centres I work with cutting hair; sports therapy sessions.

We also run our "Tame Your Mane" sessions, teaching young adults and parents (especially dads with daughters) how to properly care for hair.
From washing, brushing and drying to straightening, plaiting and braiding, we help build confidence and practical skills that many people were never taught.

None of this would be possible without the incredible people around me.
I'm fortunate to have found people who share the same values as I do.
People like Shellyanne, Shannon and Samantha, who care deeply about the people we have served over the years and continue to do so.

I'm blessed with loyal customers who trust us with their own hair and that of their children or children in their care.
I'm grateful for every recommendation, every social media tag, every kind review and every person who tells someone else about us.
And I'm incredibly thankful to those customers who overpay, leave tips, donate toys, bring gifts and support the work we do beyond the barber chair.
Every single one of those acts of kindness helps us continue helping others.
When I look back, I'm overwhelmed by how far we've come.
What started as a struggle with my own children has become something that supports hundreds of families, children, adults and carers every year.
Whether someone comes to us for a haircut, advice, support through bereavement, help navigating challenges around SEND, or simply a safe place where they won't be judged, we're here.
We've been here for nearly five years now.
But the journey is far from over.
This has never just been about hair.
It's about people.

We aren’t just another barbers - we are a support network, the centre of a great community!

And we're only just getting started 🦁💈

Kyle and Samantha are both in all day tomorrow!

Come and beat the half term/bank holiday rush!

✂️🦁💈💇💇‍♀️

Apologies for any inconvenience; but the shop will be closed today.

Kyle has been poorly throughout the night and won’t be in.
Sam is also unavailable to cover.
We have contacted and rearranged all appointments for today.

Should be back to normal tomorrow 💈🦁

Hi Guys,

As some may know - Kyle runs a local football club Queensway United FC.

We are currently setting up a new U16 team for the upcoming season to add to the clubs existing men’s team.

If you have a son or daughter aged 14 or 15 who plays football, or is currently looking for a new team/new challenge - we are on the look out for players.

This is a mixed gender, mixed ability team. Fully inclusive.

We have coaches, sponsors, grounds and everything all in place. Just require a few more players to add to the existing players already interested and committed.

Please reach out to express interest and for details of training 🦁⚽️🦁