Interview with Nicki Rodriguez-Holmes, co-founder of Spargoland hair and nail cutting salons for adults and children with developmental disabilities
Jo Worgan
Brentwood, Essex – Spargoland is a new charity that is aiming to build hair and nail cutting salons that are designed for both adults and children with developmental disabilities. The charity has been founded by Nicki Rodriguez-Holmes and owner of Brentwood’s Spargo Hairdressing, Ian Marshall.
Nicki’s four-year-old son, Harrison, has autism, who she describes as a “happy little boy who toe walks, spins, runs like a rocket, which he self regulates and is obsessed with dinosaurs and building animals from Lego and Duplo.”
I wanted to learn more about this inspiring charity and the story behind it, and Nicki Rodriguez-Holmes kindly agreed to an interview, which can be read below.
Ian & Nicki
Can you tell me how you met Ian Marshall, and about both of your roles at Spargoland?
Ian and I met when I became a client at the hairdressing salon he owns, Spargo, which is a totally separate company. I personally chose our charity name. I chose Spargoland because without Ian’s involvement, I could not possibly achieve what I wanted, so I want Ian to have recognition for his huge role. I then thought of places that you tell children (as most of our clients will be children) that you are taking them that would really excite them and encourage them to want to go. I remembered places like Legoland, Winterwonderland, Adventure Land, Disney Land, Digger Land and so….. Spargoland was born.
Ian and I are both co-founders and Directors of Spargoland. We also have 7 (including Ian and myself) Management Committee Members which include 3 Trustees.
Your little boy is obviously the inspiration behind the charity. Can you tell me a little about him? When he was diagnosed?
Harrison is 5 in December, and was diagnosed with Autism in July 2013 when he was two and a half years old. He is moderate with his motor skills and severe with communication and his sensory side. He also has Global Development Delay (GDD) so he is currently doing a lot of activities that a 2/3 year old would do. I was extremely fortunate (and now I clearly know why) that before I had Harrison, I worked as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) for boys with Autism and chromosome disorders. When Harrison was born I noticed at around 8 months, that he was not developing in the way that he should have been. Having two older daughters, I originally thought it was because of the cliché, boys are slower, but when he would rock in his chair for hours, not make any eye contact, continually stare at lights, disturbed sleep patterns and lining small toys up on his high chair, alarm bells started to ring for me.
Harrison
At 18 months, I took Harrison to see our doctor and expressed that he was not hitting any milestones, not walking or talking and just wanted to continually rock and that a friend had asked if he was deaf when he did not respond when you called him. The ball then started to roll, with Harrison being referred to the Child Development Centre. In October 2012, Harrison was diagnosed with Global Development Delay with a view to him also being on the Autistic Spectrum. At this point, we were told that it was unknown whether Harrison would ever speak and that he was also being referred to the ENT Department for his hearing. Thankfully, his tests came back that he was not deaf but had a condition called Glue Ear in his left ear, resulting in his ear canal being completely blocked. He had a small procedure to have it unblocked which helped hugely with his balance and also showed immediately that he had a problem with noise.
Can you tell me of any help and support you received?
Can you tell me of any help and support you received?
Upon receiving his diagnosis of Autism in July 2013, Essex County Council put in place for Harrison a fantastic team of specialists. Our key worker has become an extended member of our family and our Specialist Teacher, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language Therapist and Health Visitor have been an amazing support to us. Using my background skills, as well as advice from my Speech and Language Therapist, after two months of intensive interaction with Harry, I was able to get him to start talking. He said his first word, which was our next door neighbour’s name a week after his 3rd birthday.
Harrison starts school in September and is going to a mainstream primary school. He was awarded the EHCP in October 2014 and we have now finalised his EHCP after appealing against Statutory Assessment for the full 32.5 hours, which we won!
How does Harrison react to getting his hair cut?
Harrison started having his hair cut at the age of 1, where at this time, he was not diagnosed. I look back now and feel terrible at putting a hairdryer near him!
I feel the best way to describe Harrison (and I am sure Ian would agree with me!) is like trying to put a cat in the bath! Harrison is horrendous to the point that he has given me a black eye where I have to hold and restrain him. Harrison becomes totally traumatised by the whole situation and it causes us both so much stress that it leaves both me and him mentally and physically drained. I have encouraged Harrison to have manners, so even after his hair has been (half) cut, he will say thank you afterwards and then literally passes out in the car on the way home as he has exhausted himself through fighting me and screaming.
I have been cutting his hair whilst he sleeps and when it gets really bad, myself and one of the stylists at Spargo; have to retrain him, whilst two stylists quickly cut as much as possible before we have to stop. Even to wash his hair is a nightmare for him.
Have you experience of other children with autism, regards to hairdressing?
I attended at the beginning of this year, a course run by Essex County called Good Beginnings. It is a course for parents who have children with ASD. I met eight mums there, who all experience the same hell as I do with regards to having their children’s hair cut. Through research, I have personally undertaken, before I approached Ian to do Spargoland, so many parents I spoke to all said how hard it was for their children to have their hair cut and also the embarrassment of being stared at by other people in regular salons. I was once asked to leave a barbers with how bad Harrison was.
What specific training will staff have to meet the needs of children and individuals who have a developmental disability?
Ian and I have discussed having carers to be trained to cut hair and nails, as it is easier to teach someone with background knowledge of working with children and adults with SEN rather than teaching a hairdresser how to have the patience etc. I personally feel that the area to work on most will be cutting hair of someone with ASD and/or sensory issues, because it needs to be quick without getting hair on their skin or spraying a water bottle onto the hair. Dry cuts with a comb already wet and as quickly as possibly whilst they are engaged with a touch screen pad or fidget toy will be a task to learn and adapt to.
Ian and Nicki with MP Eric Pickles when he visited the premises.
How will the salon be funded?
We are currently registering with the Charity Commissioners to become a registered charity. This has become extremely time consuming and has prevented us to be granted with Government Funds. Due to the demand for Spargoland to be opened, Ian and I decided two months ago to raise the £57,500 ourselves to build Spargoland and the monies that we will then need to run per year. We can then apply through funding companies when our charity number becomes available.
We received information last week that Brentwood County High School has chosen Spargoland to be their annual charity, in which they dedicate one day a year to have a non-uniform day and their sixth form hold events to additionally raise money. We also hold an Annual Ball every November for Spargoland and in the Summer now annually, host an event with our Patron, Anna Kennedy OBE, where we use 50% of the money raised for Spargoland and the other 50% goes towards Anna Kennedy Online UK charity, support she does for families and also her new performing arts projects, such as ‘Autism’s Got Talent’. We will also have clients of Spargo taking on fund raising activities as well as local clubs in the area.
We spoke with Anna Kennedy and asked her about her new role as Patron. She told us:
Anna Kennedy OBE
“Excited to be Patron of Spargoland, since this is a new innovative project where the first SEN hairdressing Salon and nail cutting Bar will be launched. Lots of interest already with reference to this project. I wish there was a salon when Patrick and Angelo were younger, they both sure would have had good haircuts instead of my creations! Good Luck Spargoland!”
How can people help to support you?
Volunteering to work within the Salon, as well as taking on fundraising activities. Spargoland will not be charging a fee for their services, but seek a donation. This means Spargoland is affordable to everyone who has a disability.
Can you tell me a little more about the forthcoming charity ball?
Our charity ball is taking place on 14 November at Orsett Hall in Essex. We had 350 tickets which include a 3 course meal, entertainment, raffle and auctions, which were sold within 2 weeks of going on sale.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Our summer event with Anna Kennedy Online is celebrity side vs Spurs Legends which is being held at Bishops Stortford Football Club in August. We are having a date confirmed this week. This event will hopefully raise enough money for us to buy all of our building equipment and sensory items, as we are starting our refit in August.
We also have a charity cricket match at Shenfield Cricket club being organised as well as a charity golf day. Early next year, a fashion show is being organised with our other Patron, Harry Derbidge. This event we are not only looking to raise money but also bring more awareness to hidden disabilities by having children and adults with SEN, model clothes borrowed from TOWIE shops in Brentwood.
My co-founder Ian Marshall is doing a sky dive on 19 July in Ashford and is also taking part in a Triathlon on 9 August at Excel to raise money too.
I would very much like to thank Nicki for taking the time to answer our questions and wish Spargoland the very best of luck, and we will keep you updated with the latest developments.
You can find more information about Spargoland via:
