Salford’s Beauty In The Community – “It’s a lot more than just painting nails and playing with makeup.”

A TEACHER has started a beauty therapy charity to help improve people’s mental health during the pandemic.

Carina, 34, conducts workshops for people around Salford for both men and women in a bid to boost people’s self-esteem and confidence.

Carina, who has taught beauty for 10 years, said: “My business, Manchester International Beauty Academy, was closed due to Covid-19 and the various lockdowns. I felt helpless. I wanted to help support the local communities.

“We target schools, those in care, young offenders and BME communities. The list is endless. A lot of people have been isolating, this is people coming together.”

The new charity, Beauty In The Community, is a non-profit organisation that actively works across Salford and Greater Manchester.Values of Beauty In The Commmunity

She added: “It is a lot more than painting nails and playing with makeup as many may feel. It’s about making people feel good.”

Carina and her team educate people on how to look after their skin and body, and aim to help solve any personal issues that could be getting them down.

Carina said: ‘We can give them skincare and beauty tips, so they don’t need to spend a lot of money to look and feel good. 

“The workshops run from any age over five plus and has recently been delivering workshops at Willow Tree Community Primary, Elderbrook Pupil Referral Unit and Ellenbrook Primary. 

“Students of all ages are given creative projects to explore wellbeing in a fun and engaging way. We explore together, kids yoga sessions and play with makeup and nails.”

The children received care packages including toothpaste and toothbrushes. They also contain sanitary products, gift vouchers, sweet treats and are made suited to people’s need. 

“I would like to do some community events such as tea and coffee morning with pampering sessions, we go and travel to the community to make them feel safer in their local community centres,” added Carina.

“Once we are working consistently across Greater Manchester, we would then look at expansion into other areas.

“We have had a lot of rejection recently, organisations haven’t deemed it [the charity] as a priority which has been disappointing.

“Last year, during the lockdown, the priority was homelessness but now lockdown is over and personal care is allowed to go ahead, it’s my priority to get people together and interact to look and feel good.”

Previously, Carina has worked with Salford’s ForViva. She is also hoping to work with Community Grocery in Salford to help make a positive impact on people’s lives.

She added: “I love to teach and bring people together. I enjoy helping and inspiring others. Our values for Manchester International Beauty Academy are #Motivate #Inspire #Believe #Achieve “.

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