Sarah Mail and Christine Brewster. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Masterton hairdressing apprentice Sarah Mail is looking forward to being able to purchase her own tools of the trade thanks to a $1000 scholarship from Masterton Trust Lands Trust.
Mail said hairdressers relied on having their own hairstyling kit, and it could cost a pretty penny.
“They’re our essential tools of the trade, owning your own scissors is where you start – they’re personal to you, and you get to know the feel of them.”
She said they were also a significant investment, and something her scholarship money would help pay for.
Being awarded the scholarship was a big relief to Mail – who as an adult student had to balance other financial commitments as a homeowner and a mum to two intermediate school-aged children.
“It’s really good that Masterton Trust Lands Trust offer this scholarship,” said Mail, who plans to pay it forward in future by opening her own salon and taking on as many apprentices as she can.
“It’s such a valuable way to learn,” she said.
At 32 years old, Mail left the security of work to study hairdressing despite being worried she was too old to study, she soon realised learning is life-long.
She said she didn’t think she’d ever stop learning – which is something she enjoyed in her new role as a second-year apprentice at Vivo Hair Salon in Masterton.
Trustees were impressed by Mail’s decision to retrain as an adult student, along with her previous voluntary work with Masterton’s Community Patrol.
“These scholarships are part of the trust’s education grants programme and are an investment in our apprentices today, tomorrow and beyond,” trust education committee chair Christine Brewster said.
The trust would provide up to six apprentice scholarships a year, up to the value of $1000 each to help with industry training fees, travel costs, and to purchase tools and specialist equipment.
To be eligible to apply, applicants must be employed by tenants of Masterton Trust Lands Trust and have their employer’s support, the trust said.
Applications for the next round of Tenant Apprentice Scholarships close in August.
- For more information visit mtlt.org.nz/grants/scholarships.
