Eddie giving a haircut on the street
EST. 2016 · BATH, UK N 51°22′ · W 2°21′
APRIL 2027 · RIDE ANNOUNCED

One ride.
One mission.
One haircut at a time.

Eddie's Street Cuts is a community project from Bath, UK, with one purpose: restoring dignity and hope to people experiencing homelessness through a simple haircut. Now the mission is crossing the Atlantic.

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Cuts given
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Volunteers
9 YRS
On the streets
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§ 01 · RIDE · APRIL 2027 · COAST TO COAST CYCLE

Coast to coast cycle: message of hope.
New York → Los Angeles.

Coast to Coast Cycle: Message of Hope is a cross-country cycling challenge from New York City to Los Angeles — 4,130 miles — raising awareness for homelessness while inspiring the hairdressing community to give back.

At every major stop along the route, we partner with local charities and gather volunteer hairdressers to provide free haircuts to people living on the streets. The long-term vision: a network of hairdressers in every city, connected to local homeless charities, who keep giving long after the bike rolls on.

LIVE TRACKER Live from April 2027

When the wheels start turning, this is where you'll ride along — Eddie and Zac tracked across America in real time, city by city, cut by cut.

ROUTE · NYC → LA
Haircutting stop Route city Route
  1. STOP 01
    New YorkHaircutting session
    1 APR '27 · NY
  2. STOP 02
    Pittsburgh
    TBC · PA
  3. STOP 03
    Cleveland
    TBC · OH
  4. STOP 04
    ChicagoHaircutting session
    TBC · IL
  5. STOP 05
    St. Louis
    TBC · MO
  6. STOP 06
    Memphis
    TBC · TN
  7. STOP 07
    New OrleansHaircutting session
    TBC · LA
  8. STOP 08
    DallasHaircutting session
    TBC · TX
  9. STOP 09
    Phoenix
    TBC · AZ
  10. STOP 10
    Los AngelesHaircutting session
    JUN '27 · CA
§ 02 · Funding Transparency, mile by mile.

Fund the next cut.

Our goal is to raise £20,000. While £5,025 will cover essential, bare-minimum logistics for the 74-day trek, 100% of the remaining funds go directly toward expanding ESC initiatives: buying haircutting equipment for volunteers, securing public liability insurance, assisting volunteer travel, and providing a warm meal or coffee for volunteers and guests after a session.

Trip logistic breakdownCost
Flights£950
Food£1,480
Accommodation£1,685
Bike maintenance£450
Laundry£80
Phone / data£80
Miscellaneous£300
Total logistical cost£5,025

A haircut takes twenty minutes. The conversation that happens inside it can take someone home.

Eddie Ilic · Founder & Honorary Doctor of Social Inclusion, Bath Spa University
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Free Cuts · to Date
Bath and Bristol — one chair at a time.
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Volunteers
Professionals who give a day a month. No payment taken.
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Charities & shelters
Julian House, Caring in Bristol, the BS3 Hub, and others.
4,130MI
NYC to LA · April '27
Coast to Coast Cycle: Message of Hope. 10 route cities.

The scale of it, right now.

UK

Over 0 people are officially recorded as homeless in the United Kingdom, with numbers climbing annually.

US

On any given night, over 0 individuals experience homelessness across America.

§ 03 · The Story Bath → Bristol → the world.

A barber who wouldn't look away.

Eddie Ilic cutting a client's hair at a street pop-up in Bath

Nine years ago Eddie founded Eddie's Street Cuts — a small community project with a simple purpose: free haircuts for people experiencing homelessness in Bath and Bristol. What began as an act of service has become one of the most important foundations of his own recovery. Now, over 11 years sober, he understands deeply the principle that keeps him well: giving back to others, especially those who are struggling as he once did.

Eddie's Street Cuts is about far more than hair. Each trim is a conversation, a moment of respect, and a reminder that they matter.

"A haircut restores dignity, confidence and human connection. For someone on the streets, being seen and cared for can mean everything." — Eddie Ilic

Recovery has taught Eddie that service is essential. Street Cuts keeps him grounded, grateful, and connected to his purpose. Giving back isn't just for the community — it is a daily commitment to stay well.

Why America? A journey of resilience.

Choosing a cross-continental challenge across America, rather than staying in the UK, is a deliberate act of extreme resilience. For Eddie, now over 11 years sober, the bike ride mirrors his personal journey of recovery: a testament that when you face immense adversity, you can overcome anything if you focus your mind on a purpose.

This cycle is a rolling message of hope. ESC is expanding its footprint to America by sharing its step-by-step operational blueprint. At every stop, we leave behind the exact framework used to establish our UK projects, empowering local American hairdressers and stylists to carry the torch within their own communities long after our bikes leave.

In association with Aveda.

We are immensely proud to execute this mission in association with Aveda. As a confirmed sponsor, Aveda is supplying haircutting equipment and leveraging its extensive network to recruit passionate, volunteer hairdressers and barbers on the ground across our major stops.

§ 04 · Transformations Real people. Real cuts.

Twenty minutes in the chair.

Before and after — street cut, Bath
Before → AfterBath
Before and after — street cut, Bristol
Before → AfterBristol
§ 05 · On the Ground A chair, a cape, a conversation.

More than a haircut.

§ 06 · Get Involved Three ways in.

This doesn't work without you.

Stylist volunteers.

Are you a barber or stylist in NYC, Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas, or LA? Join our hair-cutting sessions at our 5 primary tour stops to give back to your local community.

Get involved →

Corporate & gear sponsorship.

We are actively looking for brand partnerships, corporate sponsorships, and donations of essential outdoor gear — including lightweight tents, sleeping kits, and technical apparel — to sustain our riders on the 4,130-mile journey.

Partner with us →

Host a pop-up.

Shelters, day centres, recovery hubs — if you work with people experiencing homelessness, we bring the chair to your space. UK and US route cities.

Propose a venue →
§ 07 · Get in touch

Pull up
a chair.

For press, partnerships, volunteering, or a hosted pop-up in your city — any of the channels below. Eddie reads the inbox himself; reply time is 48–72 hours.

EMAILeddiestreetcuts@gmail.com → PHONE+44 (0) 7956 871223 → INSTAGRAM@eddiestreetcuts ↗

Send a message

Donate · Fund the next cut →