A LEADING hairdresser is using her skills to help disadvantaged young people in India and Jordan.

Janet Maitland, owner of Janet Maitland Hair Excellence, in Gilesgate, Durham City, is a Schwarzkopf UK Ambassador for the Shaping Futures programme, under which poor children are given training in hairdressing.

Youngsters who have grown too old to live in SOS Children’s Villages are given training and recruited to work at salons.

Ms Maitland has twice visited India to help out and will return again in October, staying for a month.

Further, this year the project is expanding to Jordan and Ms Maitland will visit for two weeks in August.

She said: “It’s hard work but it’s very rewarding.”

Two of her staff, Anthony McMeiken and Sarah Brown, are hoping to travel with her. They must raise £2,000 each and are planning a number of fundraising events.