'Everyone deserves to feel included': Selsey salon makes accessibility a priority

Hair in the Chair, owned by Kim Martin, has recently moved to a converted barn at 46 High Street, Selsey, where it has introduced facilities designed to make visits easier for people with disabilities and mobility difficulties.

The salon now offers wheelchair access via a ramp, a disabled toilet and convenient parking directly outside.

Kim said the decision to prioritise accessibility was inspired by the experiences of clients at the salon's previous premises, where a large step at the entrance made access difficult for some.

She said: “The reason accessibility was so important to us was actually our own clients. At our previous salon, there was a large step at the entrance, and for some of our ladies it was almost impossible to get inside.

“It really brought home to us how something as simple as a step could prevent someone from doing something they enjoy.”

Kim explained that the salon's relationships with its clients were at the heart of the decision to make the new premises more accessible.

“We love our clients, and over the years we’ve built relationships that go far beyond simply doing their hair. We’re like one big family, and we want every person who walks through our door to feel welcome, comfortable and valued,” she said.

“Going to the hairdressers should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, not something that causes worry or difficulty before they’ve even got through the door.”

The move to the new salon gave Kim and her team the opportunity to consider how they could make visits more comfortable and convenient for their existing clients, while welcoming new customers.

“When we moved into our new salon at Hair in the Chair, we wanted to make sure we did everything we could to make visiting us easier,” Kim said.

“We’ve provided a ramp for wheelchair access, a disabled toilet and parking outside. These facilities mean so much more to us than just ticking boxes; they’re about making sure our lovely clients can continue to visit us and enjoy their time with us.”

Kim hopes the salon's experience will also encourage other local businesses to consider how their premises could better accommodate people with disabilities or mobility difficulties.

She said: “I absolutely believe there should be more businesses and public places locally that consider people with disabilities or mobility difficulties.

“Everyone deserves to feel included in their community, and nobody should have to miss out on everyday pleasures because somewhere isn’t accessible to them.”

The salon owner said she was proud of what had been achieved at the new premises and hoped sharing the story would help raise awareness of the importance of accessibility in the local community.

“We are really proud of our new salon and what we’ve created, and I hope that by sharing our story, we can help raise awareness and encourage other businesses to think about how they can make a difference too.”