By Shaelyn Stout
If you’ve ever passed Angel or Finsbury Park tube stations on a Tuesday, you might know Mojo Stewart. If you’re not sure who that is, look for the dancing man giving free haircuts to the homeless.
Known as Groom, Groove & Grub, Mojo’s one-person initiative aims to keep homeless people fresh, fed and having fun. He works Tuesdays from 12 pm to 2 pm by Angel station and heads to Stroud Green Bridge in Finsbury Park for another shift at 3 pm.
Mojo began volunteering for the homeless in Stratford, East London about two years ago. Unfortunately, the charity he was volunteering for did not appreciate his love for music and dancing on the job and told Mojo was his antics were “too loud and too noisy.”
Still passionate about helping London’s homeless, Mojo found a way to change lives while grooving without judgement. After leaving the charity in Stratford, he hit the streets of north London with speakers, snack packs, scissors and a smile.
Although his loud music and high energy is too much for an indoor charity, Mojo said: “Outside, I don’t get into any trouble.”
A report by Shelter charity reported roughly 170,068 homeless people living in London as of December 2019. Activists worry that the number is steadily increasing, due to austerity cuts. As the weather gets colder, more and more people are in danger when sleeping rough.
Whether you go to Mojo for a haircut, a snack, or to get your groove on, he will welcome you with open arms. And if you can’t dance, no need to worry—he will teach you a routine!
Mojo mentioned his phone was stolen at Angel Tube station 4th February 2020 in the early afternoon. In his typical optimistic attitude, he said: “If anybody from [Angel] has taken the phone they can hand it back to me next Tuesday; no harm, no foul.”
Show your support next week in Angel or Finsbury Park. If you can’t make it, follow Mojo’s Instagram @GroomGrooveGrub.
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