As a student, I understand how challenging it can be to balance a tight budget while maintaining comfort and self-worth; believe me, I’ve been there. The struggle of being unable to afford simple things like getting a fresh haircut often gets pushed aside due to prioritising other things like food or travel, but the impact of looking good and feeling the same cannot be overstated. For many students, the cost of a haircut can be too much and feel like an unnecessary luxury.
At Bucks Students’ Union, we love supporting student-led initiatives that have a real impact on the student community. One of the latest successes was Buckin’ Buzzin’, a campaign launched by Student Voice Officer, Ben Gibbons. The initiative, which provided free haircuts during Mental Health Week, was designed to support students financially, emotionally, and physically.
As a Students’ Union, we are always excited to see students take the lead on projects that benefit their peers. Ben’s campaign is a great example of how a simple idea can turn into something that makes a real difference. We’re pleased to have supported Buckin’ Buzzin’ and are proud of the success it achieved.
Ben’s inspiration for the campaign
“Hi, my name is Ben Gibbons, and I am a Student Voice Officer at Bucks Students’ Union. As part of my role as Student Voice Officer, I’m excited to have created and launched the Buckin' Buzzin' initiative within the university, a new campaign designed to physically, emotionally, and financially support students. This event was an opportunity for myself and my good friend Oliver (a barber located in Marlow) to provide students with free haircuts during Mental Health Week, a gesture aimed at promoting self-care and boosting confidence, two main aspects that can significantly impact and promote mental well-being.
The idea for Buckin' Buzzin' came from a conversation Oliver and I had while he was cutting my hair on a random afternoon. He stated he had always been interested in potentially setting up a little van/pop-up shop near universities, offering students cheap/discounted haircuts to help them with the financial struggles they may be facing. All of a sudden, I then had a ‘lightbulb’ moment. In my head, the idea came, and I thought, “This was something I could run as a campaign”. I asked Oliver if he was interested; I could potentially take the idea to the university and see about actually doing something similar, but instead of it being a ‘pop-up’ shop or out on the street, why not in the university itself, for FREE, and the rest is history.
As a student, I understand how challenging it can be to balance a tight budget while maintaining comfort and self-worth; believe me, I’ve been there. The struggle of being unable to afford simple things like getting a fresh haircut often gets pushed aside due to prioritising other things like food or travel, but the impact of looking good and feeling the same cannot be overstated. For many students and me, the cost of a haircut can be too much and feel like an unnecessary luxury. This event aimed to alleviate that burden, offering a free, professional haircut from barbers I trusted to all Bucks students, regardless of gender, and creating inclusivity.
The day was a fantastic success; with Oliver and Mike (hairdressers from 1932 Youngmans Marlow) donating their time and expertise, we saved students a rough estimate of £1,500. The support from the university and the Students' Union helped to make this initiative a reality. I’m hopeful it will become a recurring event, further strengthening the support we offer students. This initiative aimed to help students save a little money and remind them of the importance of self-care and self-esteem, and I believe we achieved that. Even a small act, like a haircut, can significantly impact mental health. This event was a positive step in creating a caring, connected student community and making this a fundamental part of the Big Deal.
One final big thank you to Oliver and Mike for doing a fantastic job and everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported this initiative. I genuinely believe we’re making an impact, and I’m excited about the future of Buckin’ Buzzin!"
- Ben Gibbons Student Voice Officer, 2025
If you have any ideas for any future campaigns, please do contact us at SUrepresentation@bucks.ac.uk we would love to hear from you or fill out the form on the What’s On page.