Salon opening in murdered hairdresser's memory

A new training hair salon is set to open to create a lasting legacy for a 20-year-old hairdresser who was murdered by her ex-partner.

The 12-seat venue on Westgate Street, Gloucester, is being launched in Hollie Gazzard's memory in September.

As well as teaching students traditional hairdressing skills, Hollie's at The Bridge will also train staff on warning signs of abusive relationships so they can support clients.

Nick Gazzard, Hollie's father, said opening a hairdressers bearing his daughter's name is "very emotional", adding: "I think she'd be really proud because that was one of her dreams to open her own salon."

The salon is being launched as a collaboration between the Hollie Gazzard Trust - a charity set up to help organisations spot warning signs of abuse and empower them to act - and Bridge Training, an alternative education provider.

Jane Harvey, Hollie Gazzard Trust CEO, said that opening the salon shows "something positive has come out of an absolutely devastating tragedy".

"Educating young people is the most important thing that we can do to prevent things from happening at the level that Hollie experienced, empowering them with the confidence to set boundaries and to have healthy relationships and to recognise those warning signs," Harvey said.

Hollie was stabbed multiple times by an ex-partner, Asher Maslin, in February 2014 while she was at work at a salon in the centre of Gloucester.

Maslin was jailed for life in 2014, and ordered to serve a minimum of 24 years.

In the 12 years since Hollie was murdered, violence against women and girls "hasn't dissipated or reduced at all", Harvey added.

The training salon will offer public appointments to aid trainees' real-world experience.

"It's a space where students can learn their craft but also, thanks to input from Hollie Gazzard Trust, they will learn the warning signs of abusive behaviour in their own life and in the lives of their friends and families," Harvey said.

"We will also equip them to spot the warning signs in any clients whose hair they are doing so that they can help safeguard them," she added.

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