When hairdressers shut up shop during the first Covid lockdown, it was suggested to Ben Sarak that if he grew his locks, he could donate the hair to the Little Princess Trust to be made into a wig for a child undergoing cancer treatment.

Almost three years on, he finally had his haircut, also raising around £2,500 for Manchester welfare charity The Fed, where his mum Natasha works.

Ben, 12, has often worn his hair in a man-bun during his charitable effort and has suffered bullying — once being hit in the street. “But I kept going because I know how important this is.

“I wanted to raise money for The Fed because my great-grandpa Gerry was looked after at its Heathlands Village for three years, where the staff were amazing. I had a really special bond with my grandpa so I am doing this in his memory.”

And as part of The Fed’s bar/batmitzvah programme, Ben is learning more about the breadth of the charity’s activities. “It made me realise that other children and families are not as lucky as I am and has made fundraising more important to me.”