Community Interest Company · Reading & London
Amplifying Voices, Celebrating Heritage, Inspiring Change Through Equity
TRIYBE brings community-led research, NHS partnership and hair heritage education together, so that Black heritage identity, health and wellbeing are understood with dignity and depth.
Recognition · 12 September 2026
Two Unsung Heroes Awards for our Director and Founder
Claudette Maharaj received the Community Connector and Mentor Unsung Heroes Awards at the Caribbean Heritage Centre Annual Awards 2026.
From our founder
“TRIYBE's work is about leading change and creating spaces where Black heritage communities are honoured, valued, and truly heard.”Claudette Maharaj, Director & FounderFind out more about TRIYBE →
What we do
Six areas of work, one purpose
Hair heritage education, NHS partnerships, community-led research, culturally responsive practice, university partnerships and community outreach, working together for equity.
Education
Hair heritage education
Hands-on workshops on the science, history and care of Black heritage hair, for families, adults and professionals.
Health
NHS partnerships
Culturally informed hair care guidance, CPD training and Black heritage hair care pack inpatient resources developed with NHS trusts.
Research
Community-led research
Community-led investigation into the safety of Black heritage hair care products, with university researchers. Our research →
Practice
Culturally responsive practice
Identity programmes and training that help services work well with people of Black heritage.
University
University partnerships
Community-led research, In the Lab workshops in the University of Reading's chemistry labs and printing for our exhibition portraits, with research partners at Reading, Leeds and Loughborough. Our partners →
Community![Guests around a long table in conversation at TRIYBE’s Black Hair and Identity brunch]()
Community partnerships and outreach
Working alongside barbers, braiders, artists, cultural groups and community organisations to reach people where they are, in Reading, London and overseas.
Featured partnership
Beyond the Crown: Hair, Identity and Mental Health
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust commissioned TRIYBE to develop practical Black heritage hair care resources for staff and people receiving inpatient care.
Why this matters
A mental health inpatient stay can come at one of the most vulnerable times in a person’s life. For people with Afro-textured hair, including many Black and mixed-heritage people, appropriate hair care supports dignity, identity, confidence and wellbeing. It is an important part of care and recovery.
- CPD webinar for NHS staffDelivered March 2026 to Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- NHS community eventPart of Beyond the Crown's 101 interactions so far
- Black Heritage Hair Care GuideAlso available as a digital guide for ward use
- Religious, Spiritual and Cultural Headwear GuideGuidance for respectful care on inpatient wards
- Heritage hair care packsRisk-assessed for inpatient settings, with reference to CQC ligature guidance
Small acts of cultural understanding can create a more inclusive, compassionate and healing environment for everyone.
In pictures
Our work in the community
A thank-you from Jamaica
Wellesley Gayle, CEO and Founder of MyIslandJamaica.com, our Hurricane Melissa relief partner in Westmoreland, thanks TRIYBE's supporters for their donations and talks about the farming communities still rebuilding.
Watch
Hear it from the community
Short films from our workshops, research and exhibitions, told by the people who took part.
Hair and identity: a conversation
Hairdressers and braiders Jade, Claire, Sabrina and Ruth, with a client, discuss hair and identity. Also watch The Community Speaks on TRIYBE's Work on YouTube →
Working with NHS trusts, universities and local authorities
We co-design training, research and resources that are grounded in the community they serve. Tell us what you are working on.
About TRIYBE
Stepping outside the system to change it
TRIYBE is a community interest company that creates positive, lasting change through transformation, research, amplification and innovation.
Our founding story
Why TRIYBE began
“To make real change, you must step outside the system that resists it.”
Claudette Maharaj founded TRIYBE in February 2022, after years of working inside systems where she could see the changes that were needed but could not make them. Her career spans mental health, social care, education, therapy, public health and the criminal justice system, in the UK and internationally, including leading and developing culturally responsive strategies within the NHS for public health and Black heritage mental health.
In September 2026, Claudette's work was recognised with two Unsung Heroes Awards, for Community Connector and Mentor, at the Caribbean Heritage Centre Annual Awards.
TRIYBE was set up to work differently. Our projects start with the community: the themes we work on come from the people we serve, not from an internal plan. Our delivery is deliberately creative, and our evidence comes from community-led research carried out alongside academic partners.
Under Claudette's leadership, TRIYBE is leading what is believed to be the UK's first Black hair care research project, funded and supported by the British Science Association and supported by the University of Reading. Claudette also serves as a global advisor on the board of Academy Achievers, supporting its #BeMe mission to help one million Black heritage girls and women pursue careers in STEM.
Mission
Amplifying Voices, Celebrating Heritage, Inspiring Change Through Equity
To strengthen identity, celebrate Black heritage, amplify unheard voices and drive social change, and to create awareness, action and advocacy around the safety and wellbeing of Black heritage hair care products and practices.
“TRIYBE's work is about leading change and creating spaces where Black heritage communities are honoured, valued, and truly heard.”
Claudette Maharaj, Director & Founder
What guides our work
Transformation
Creating positive change for individuals, communities, organisations and the wider systems around them.
Aspiration and resilience
Supporting individuals, families and communities to set goals and build resilience.
Inspiration
Inspiring, motivating and encouraging people to believe in their own worth and potential, through collaboration.
Younity
Intergenerational connection that creates positive experiences and amplifies voices.
Identity
Helping people understand their own history, experiences, values, passions and strengths, to build a strong sense of identity and purpose.
Empowerment
Providing the opportunities, creative initiatives, resources, skills, strategies and support people need to reach their goals.
Team TRIYBE
The TRIYBE Collective
Creative people who each bring their own expertise and purpose, united by one aim: helping communities thrive.
Claudette MaharajDirector & Founder
Tyler HinksonPartnership and Networking Lead; Community Researcher, Mental Health Lead, speaker and spoken word artist
Sharon TitusCommunity Researcher and writer; founder of Black Treacle Talks
Nicola BennettCommunity Researcher and Outreach
Marisha FofanahProgramme Lead, In the Lab workshops
JaudenMarketing
TRIYBE Blazers
Our Blazers are young changemakers discovering their heritage, building confidence and leading with purpose. They are the next generation of thinkers, creators and leaders: proud of who they are, connected to where they come from, and inspired to shape the future with community spirit.
Our Blazers also lead interviews, asking questions and recording the stories and voices of their community.
Programmes
Living stories that centre community voices
Every TRIYBE programme combines creativity, research and lived experience to educate, inspire and create meaningful impact. Some are funded through partnerships; others are community-powered.
Funded by: Royal Society of Chemistry
With: University of Reading
In the Lab: Bonded in Science, Rooted by Hair and Heritage
Interactive workshops on the science behind Black hair care. Participants look at the ingredients in hair and beard products, their possible health effects and how they interact with hair and scalp, through live experiments such as pH testing, DNA extraction, curl science and microscope work.
- Parent, grandparent or caregiver and child
- Father and child
- Adults
Artist’s impression of the 2027 exhibition
Hair heritage educationWhere: Reading
Photography: 2026 · Exhibition: 2027
Portrait printing funded by: University of Reading
Hair Heritage and Identity Exhibition 2027
Drawn from our community research, the exhibition will present more than 45 portraits (and counting), photographed in 2026, of community members aged 4 to 80, with writing by four artists and creative writers and a newly commissioned painting by a local artist. The printing of the portraits was funded by the University of Reading. The exhibition goes on display in 2027.
Be part of the exhibition
Would you like your hair to be part of the story? We are still inviting people of all ages to have their portrait taken, celebrating their hair, heritage and identity. Register your interest and we will be in touch.
With: RGRecords
The Gambia: March 2027
UK and Gambia Open Mic Collective 2027
A cross-cultural open mic series co-presented by RGRecords and TRIYBE. Emerging artists connect and perform, building towards the Gambia Open Mic Series in March 2027.
Status: registering for 2027
Community Workshops 2027
Practical sessions that pass on hair knowledge between generations.
TRIYBE’s Black Hair & Identity brunch: community conversations that feed into our research
ResearchFunded by: UKRI, British Science Association
Supported by: University of Reading, British Science Association
Project Natura: Black Heritage Hair Care Research
The Protect Your Crown survey is open now: have your say on safer Black hair care, scalp and beard products.
Explore our Black hair research → Take the 7-minute survey →
For: foster carers and social care teams
Launching: 2027
Crowning Care: CPD for Foster Carers
TRIYBE's curated three-session CPD workshop course that equips foster carers to care for the hair of the Black heritage children they look after, and to understand what hair means for a child's identity and sense of belonging.
For local authorities and fostering agencies
Crowning Care can be commissioned by local authority fostering services, independent fostering agencies and kinship care teams, and delivered to groups of carers at a venue of your choice. We can tailor the content to your service and include it in your carer training programme. To discuss commissioning, email info@triybe.com.
Black Heritage Hair Care Guide
NHS & healthPartner: Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Beyond the Crown: Hair, Identity and Mental Health
Hair care is part of dignity, identity and recovery. This programme gives NHS staff the knowledge and practical resources to support the hair care needs of Black heritage patients and of people who wear religious, spiritual or cultural headwear.
At the heart of the programme is the Black Heritage Hair Care Guide, developed by TRIYBE for healthcare staff, alongside CPD training and resources for inpatient settings.
Tyler on set filming and interviewing Shocka, grime artist, author and mental health advocate
“My mission is to break the stigma, especially around sectioning. So many people are ashamed to share their story. I believe stories break stigmas.”Shocka, grime artist, author and mental health advocateCulturally responsive practice
Status: Closed
Focus: Black heritage men and boys
Funded by: Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner (Thames Valley Community Fund)
Rooted: Explore Your Roots, Discover You
A Black heritage creative identity programme that offers safe, empowering spaces to explore and celebrate identity. Not knowing one's heritage can affect self-worth, belonging and wellbeing; Rooted builds the identity and resilience that support positive choices.
- Desistance programme: a stronger sense of identity to help people resist negative influences and move away from offending
- Challenge Without Fear: uplifting Black heritage voices to challenge systemic discrimination and racism
Tyler and Jauden on set, filming a mental health video
Culturally responsive practiceStatus: Reopens 2027
The Black ID Project
An exploration of the many layers of Black heritage identity, and the stories and voices that shape who we are and who we hope to be. Related strands include In the Barber's Chair, Black Male Mental Health, and reflective programmes on domestic abuse and family relationships.
Beyond Black Identity podcast
Part of The Black ID Project, the Beyond Black Identity podcast brings guests together for open conversations about identity, heritage and belonging.
TRIYBE Blazer Omari interviewing Marvin from The Hub by Aurora Family
Hair heritage educationFunded by: GWR Customer and Community Improvement Fund
Status: Closed
Delivered: 2022–23, Reading
Black to My Roots: The Black Heritage Railway Project
Celebrating the untold stories of Black railway workers from Reading, past and present, many of whom came from the Caribbean and Africa during the Windrush era. Through oral history interviews, storytelling, archival research and creative work, the project built a Reading Black Railway Living Library that preserves their contribution for future generations.
- 161 people engaged between January and April 2023
- 30 oral history participants, interviewed by the TRIYBE team and four young interviewers aged 5 to 12
- Black history walks and talks by rail, and a trip for 13 elders aged 60 to 80+ to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
- Exhibition sites at Reading Station, One Station Hill, The Oracle, Broad Street Mall, Reading Borough Council and The Hub
As part of the project, TRIYBE Blazer Omari became a young journalist, interviewing Marvin from The Hub by Aurora Family about the railway as it used to be, his family and his memories of travelling by rail.
“I got to find out what a journalist was. He was funny and interesting. Thank you Great Western Community Fund. I really enjoyed being part of The Railway Project.”Omari, TRIYBE Blazer
Partners
Working together for lasting change
We are grateful to the supporters and funders who have believed in TRIYBE's vision from the beginning. Their commitment lets us deliver projects that empower communities and improve wellbeing, in the UK and with our partners in Jamaica and The Gambia.
Health
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustBeyond the Crown: CPD, hair care and headwear guides, inpatient hair care packsUniversity partners
University of ReadingResearch partner for Project Natura and In the Lab workshopsResearch partners
Dr Alice Mpofu-ColesUniversity of Reading
Dr Sally EvansUniversity of Reading
Dr Tamanda WalkerUniversity of Leeds
Dr Symiah BarnettChemistry, Loughborough University
Funders
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)Funder of Project Natura, a Community Led Research Pilot
British Science AssociationFunder and supporter of our Black heritage hair care research
Royal Society of ChemistryFunder of In the Lab: Bonded in Science
Great Western Railway Community FundFunder of The Black Heritage Railway Project
Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner: Thames Valley Community FundFunder of the Rooted programmeCommunity partners
RGRecordsGrassroots music and media platform based in Reading. Co-presents the UK and Gambia Open Mic Collective with TRIYBE and collaborates on creative programmes, filming and community storytelling.
Trimline BarbersUses barbering as a tool for storytelling, community and transformation. A TRIYBE collaborator who supported the Beyond the Crown NHS webinar.
Urban Braid LoungeCo-creator of the Black Heritage Hair Care Guide
The Jamaica Society, ReadingCollaborator and supporter of TRIYBE. Affiliated to the Jamaican Diaspora UK.
AYS: At Your ServiceCollaborator and supporter of TRIYBE.
The Conscious KitchenCollaborator and supporter of TRIYBE.International and global partners
Our heritage work reaches beyond the UK. We work with global and community partners in the Caribbean and West Africa who share our commitment to identity, dignity and care.
I King Sharlo · Negril, JamaicaJamaica collaborator. Reggae artist, community activist and owner of I N I Ital Restaurant, Negril.
MyIslandJamaica.com · Westmoreland, JamaicaGlobal partner and Hurricane Melissa relief partner, supporting farming communities in Westmoreland. Led by CEO & Founder Wellesley Gayle.
Organ · The GambiaTRIYBE Volunteer Representative in The Gambia, supporting our community and cultural exchange work.
The Gunjur Project · Gunjur, The GambiaTRIYBE worked with the Gunjur Project's women's group in 2024, and is now collaborating with the project on a joint TRIYBE UK and Gunjur project.Global partnership in action
TRIYBE Hair Care Packs and Solar Devices delivered 2026, in support of Hurricane Melissa
With MyIslandJamaica.com, TRIYBE delivered hair care packs and solar chargers, radios and torches to families in Westmoreland after Hurricane Melissa.
A message from Negril
I King Sharlo, Jamaica collaborator
“It's a one love family thing.”I King Sharlo, Negril
Reggae artist, community activist and owner of I N I Ital Restaurant in Negril, I King Sharlo sends respect to the TRIYBE family for reaching out to him as a community activist, and talks about how TRIYBE can support young people and the Negril community through workshops.
Become a partner
We work with NHS trusts, universities, local authorities, schools and funders to co-design research, training and community programmes.
Impact
Evidence built with the community
Our impact is measured in what changes for people: safer choices about hair care, services that understand identity, and communities whose voices shape research.
Working with us
Voices that carry the work
Artists and advocates take part in our films, podcasts and events, bringing conversations about hair, identity and mental health to people who might never come to a workshop. Grime artist, author and mental health advocate Shocka is one of them.
Shocka's groundbreaking album Vulnerability Is the New Cool speaks openly about mental health, sectioning and masculinity, and his lived experience features in our Beyond the Crown impact report.
“My mission is to break the stigma, especially around sectioning. So many people are ashamed to share their story. I believe stories break stigmas.”Shocka
7,600+
people interacted with Project Natura through In the Lab workshops, community and individual conversations, brunches, social media engagement and outreach, survey completions and podcast attendees
101
interactions so far through Beyond the Crown with the Berkshire Healthcare NHS community, the Anti-Racism CommUnity Forum and the NHS healthcare community
45+
community portraits and counting, ages 4 to 80
Watch
Impact in their own words
Beyond the Crown: Beyond the Barber Chair
Trimline Barbers, who supported the Beyond the Crown NHS webinar, on using barbering as a platform for social connection, social change and impact.
In the Lab: participant feedback
Participants share what they learned from TRIYBE's In the Lab hair science workshops. More on YouTube →
Case study
Beyond the Crown: evaluation
An evaluation and impact report was produced by TRIYBE covering the CPD webinar for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust staff, the two care guides and the inpatient hair care packs, with a key focus on mental health inpatient stays and the hair care provided for those of Black heritage. The work was endorsed by NHS colleagues and community practitioners.
Key findings
100%
of post-event respondents said the objectives were met and the session was inclusive
47%
committed to challenge dismissive comments about hair from colleagues
47%
said neglected hair care could significantly worsen mental state
30%
said they would ask service users about hair care on admission
20
staff attended separate commissioned online training
50
bespoke hair care packs produced for inpatient settings
“This should be taught to all student nurses all over the country!”CPD webinar participant
“It should be part of all frontline healthcare staff knowledge.”CPD webinar participant
Source: Beyond the Crown Impact and Evaluation Report, TRIYBE C.I.C., 2026.
Community voice
What participants say
People who have attended In the Lab talk about what they learned and what they will change in their own hair care. Watch the film on YouTube →
Black hair research
Project Natura: 7,600+ people reached
Our community-led research into the safety of Black heritage hair care products, with the evidence, figures and references, now has its own page.
Community response · Jamaica
TRIYBE Hair Care Packs and Solar Devices delivered 2026, in support of Hurricane Melissa
“Your concern, your love, your support, your donations made a big difference to us.”Wellesley Gayle, CEO & Founder, MyIslandJamaica.com
After Hurricane Melissa, TRIYBE put together Heritage Hair Care Packs for women, men and children affected in Jamaica. Each pack includes a personal message from the donor, because care starts from the roots. Donation: £12 per pack.
Alongside the packs, TRIYBE delivered solar-powered devices to households still without reliable electricity: solar chargers, solar radios and solar torches, so that families can charge a phone, hear news and warnings, and light their homes after dark.
Relief reached families through our partner on the ground, Wellesley Gayle, working with farming communities in Westmoreland who will not harvest again until next year. Shelter remains one of the biggest needs. Meet our international partners →
A thank-you from Jamaica
Wellesley Gayle, CEO & Founder of MyIslandJamaica.com and our Hurricane Melissa relief partner.
Case study · 2022–23
Black to My Roots: The Black Heritage Railway Project
Funded by the GWR Customer and Community Improvement Fund, the project captured the stories of Black heritage rail workers in Reading and rebuilt confidence in rail travel for people who had felt excluded from it.
161
people engaged, January to April 2023
30
oral history participants for the Living Library
4
young interviewers aged 5 to 12
13
elders aged 60 to 80+ travelling by rail to Greenwich
“It is a very important project because it literally gives a voice to the voiceless.”Julia Titus, singer and project participant
“It has really built my confidence to start using the rail again to get out there. It's really given me my interest and purpose back.”Gina, participant, April 2023
From the Living Library
Stories of Reading's railway workers and their families, gathered through the project.
Listen
Railway Reflection, told by Sharon
Sharon remembers growing up in Reading in the late 1970s, when Reading Station was the one place in town where she regularly saw Black people at work, and why the contribution of the Windrush generation deserves to be recorded for the generations to come.
Read the transcript
Growing up in Reading in the um late 70s was um interesting being a black girl from a um Jamaican heritage born in this country but most definitely the life that I lived in Reading was a Jamaican life. And when you walked around the town in those days, you didn't really see black people in places of authority or doing stuff. I don't recall seeing it, but what I do remember is that once you got to Reading Station, you'd see black people there. You'd see black men especially working on the railway and back in that day, the Royal Mail or the mail for Reading and Berkshire used to come into Reading Station and there'd be a lot of black men working that part of the station. So for me it was a place where from quite a young age I quite I kind of felt yeah there's other people like me. I can see myself in these people. I can see my dad, my uncle. Um yeah so it was a very special place and also because being a young girl I wasn't allowed to go to Reading Station on my own so I would only go with my parents or older siblings, so it was always an exciting place to go. So for that reason, I think this project is so important because it shows the impact, it shows the contribution of that Windrush generation of their children on the Reading community and it shows that we've been here for a very long time. Unrecognised unrewarded and unnoticed but it was noticeable to a little girl of nine years old walking around that the only place in her hometown that she consistently saw people that looked like her was at Reading Station. I mean outside of her own home and her and her social circle of course but it was the only place that this project is really important to document those stories, document those experiences and to highlight the valuable contribution of the Windrush generation. It's also important that now that I'm a grandmother that the generations coming after us can have a collection of stories and pictures and experiences and journeys that they can experience in their own way and hopefully one day add their leaf in that story to the black contribution, the West Indian contribution, the Windrush generation's contribution to Reading train station and to Reading itself.
Black hair research
Community-led research into Black hair care, health and identity
TRIYBE brings lived experience, heritage and science together to ask questions about Black heritage hair care that have rarely been asked in the UK, and to turn the answers into safer choices and better services.
Our approach
Research with the community, not about it
Our research is led by the people it concerns. Community members help shape the questions, take part as interviewers and interviewees, and see the science for themselves in the lab. University researchers bring scientific methods and rigour; the community brings knowledge that no laboratory can supply.
The questions we are asking
- What chemicals are found in widely used Black heritage hair, scalp and beard products?
- What effects might these products have on physical and mental health?
- How do experiences of hair shape identity, self-worth and belonging?
- What do services such as the NHS need in order to provide culturally competent hair care?
Watch · Community-Led Research Pilot
Project Natura: the film
Putting community groups in Reading and Slough at the heart of the research process, with the University of Reading, the British Science Association and UK Research and Innovation. Subtitles are included in the film.
Why this research matters
A billion-pound industry, and a gap in the evidence
Black heritage consumers are often left out of conversations about product safety and regulation. Studies suggest that products marketed to Black women are more likely to contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which can interfere with hormone systems.1 Among Black women, recent hair product use has been linked to 16 to 35% higher levels of some phthalate and paraben biomarkers.2
Researchers at Silent Spring Institute found 45 endocrine-disrupting or asthma-associated chemicals in hair products used by Black women.1 Our community-led research brings heritage, lived experience and science together to push for safer, more transparent hair care.
Share of UK population vs share of hair care spending
Black adult women in the UK3
Scale: full bar = 10%.
- Helm, J.S., Nishioka, M., Brody, J.G., Rudel, R.A. and Dodson, R.E. (2018) ‘Measurement of endocrine disrupting and asthma-associated chemicals in hair products used by Black women’, Environmental Research, 165, pp. 448–458. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.030
- Schildroth, S., Geller, R.J., Wesselink, A.K., et al. (2024) ‘Hair product use and urinary biomarker concentrations of non-persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals among reproductive-aged Black women’, Chemosphere, 361, 142442. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142442
- TreasureTress (2021) The Untapped Opportunity in the UK Afro Haircare Market. insights.treasuretress.co.uk
Case study · Community-Led Research Pilot
Project Natura: science meets lived experience
Co-created with the University of Reading and the British Science Association and funded by UKRI, Project Natura combined lab science with deep community engagement to investigate the physical, emotional and mental health impacts of Black hair care products.
7,600+
people reached with the research, surveys and workshops
500+
face-to-face conversations in the community
7,000+
digital interactions on Instagram, Eventbrite and more
116
enquiries for 32 lab workshop places
“In Black cultures, hair is often used as an expression of pride, creativity, spirituality, and connection to ancestry, but it remains politicised. These experiences can deeply affect self-image and belonging.”Claudette Maharaj, Director, TRIYBE
“The experiments were powerful and helped make the science easy to understand. The group discussions were just as valuable, hearing other people’s stories made the information hit even harder.”Community Leader, Project Natura
Source: British Science Association, Community-Led Research Pilot: Case Studies, July 2025.
How we work
Methods
We combine laboratory science with conversation, storytelling and creative practice, so that the evidence reflects both what is in the products and what people experience.
- SurveysIncluding the live Protect Your Crown survey on hair, scalp and beard products
- Hands-on lab workshopsIn the University of Reading's chemistry labs: pH testing, microscope work, and the effects of relaxers and heat on hair and skin
- Interviews and podcastsOne-to-one interviews, with children taking part as interviewers and interviewees
- Community conversationsBrunch discussions, storytelling and creative writing sessions on identity, self-worth, masculinity and product marketing
From research to practice
Outputs
- Scientific reportFindings from Project Natura. In development.
- Culturally competent hair care guidelinesInformed by the research. In development.
- Black Heritage Hair Care GuideDeveloped with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, in print and as an interactive digital guide for wards
- Religious, Spiritual and Cultural Headwear GuideGuidance for respectful care on inpatient wards
- Beyond the Crown Impact & Evaluation Report21 August 2026
- In the Lab workshopsHair science education for families and adults, with the University of Reading and the Royal Society of Chemistry. See programmes →
Research team
Research partners and funders
University of ReadingResearch partner; host of the In the Lab workshops
Dr Alice Mpofu-ColesUniversity of Reading
Dr Sally EvansUniversity of Reading
Dr Tamanda WalkerUniversity of Leeds
Dr Symiah BarnettChemistry, Loughborough University
Funded and supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the British Science Association and the Royal Society of Chemistry. See all our partners →
Take part
Protect Your Crown
Have your say on safer Black hair care, scalp and beard products. With growing concerns over shampoos, conditioners, oils and relaxers linked to hair loss and other health issues, every response helps build the evidence for safer, healthier options. It takes about seven minutes.
Research with us
We welcome conversations with universities, NHS trusts, funders and researchers who want to work with Black heritage communities on hair, health and identity.
News & blog
Stories, updates and reflections
News from our programmes, research updates and reflections from the TRIYBE Collective.
Featured · Interview · 2026
In Conversation with Ox Monica's Son: Hair, Identity and Mental Health
We sat down with Ox Monica's Son (Okiemute Akpogheneta), author and recording artist, to talk about his book Get Rich or Get Sectioned: My Mental Health Journey and the links between hair, identity and mental health. The video shows us capturing the interview on set.
Event · 4 October 2026
TRIYBE, Shocka and Ox Monica's Son at the Every Little Thing Festival
TRIYBE will be at the Every Little Thing Festival at the Pentahotel in Reading on 4 October 2026, joined by grime artist and mental health advocate Shocka and by author and recording artist Ox Monica's Son.
The festival was created by Sinead Gibson in memory of her daughter Diva, who died by suicide in 2020, and it is a day built around wellbeing and mental health for all ages. Expect speakers, DJs, music, singers and spoken word, alongside yoga, meditation, film, food and a warm place to talk.
Come and find the TRIYBE stand to talk about hair, identity and mental health, and to hear about our work.
everylittlethingfestival.com → · @everylittlethingfestival on Instagram
Featured · Community response · Jamaica
TRIYBE Hair Care Packs and Solar Devices delivered 2026, in support of Hurricane Melissa
After Hurricane Melissa, TRIYBE delivered Heritage Hair Care Packs to women, men and children in Jamaica, each carrying a personal message from its donor. Alongside the packs we delivered solar chargers, solar radios and solar torches to households still without reliable electricity.
The relief reached families in Westmoreland, including farming communities in Left Hall and Beeston Springs, through our partner MyIslandJamaica.com and its founder, Wellesley Gayle.
“Your concern, your love, your support, your donations made a big difference to us.”Wellesley Gayle, CEO & Founder, MyIslandJamaica.com
Read more on our Impact page → · Meet our international partners →
Our Director and Founder wins two Unsung Heroes Awards
“This recognition means a lot and motivates me to keep supporting, connecting and creating opportunities in our communities.” Claudette thanked the Caribbean Heritage Centre, everyone who nominated and voted, and all the people she works and connects with.
Beyond the Crown: Black heritage hair care resources for NHS wards
With Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust we delivered staff CPD, two care guides and risk-assessed hair care packs for inpatient settings.
Register now for In the Lab 2026
Hands-on hair science sessions for families, fathers and children, and adults. Find out what's really in your hair and beard products.
Jamaica Appeal: Heritage Hair Care Packs
After Hurricane Melissa, we're sending hair care packs, each with a personal message from its donor, to families in Jamaica. £12 per pack.
Black History Month 2026
Our Black History Month programme was supported by the University of Reading and Broad Street Mall.
Artist’s impression of the 2027 exhibition
Hair Heritage and Identity: 45 portraits and counting, ages 4 to 80
Opening in 2027, our exhibition brings together more than 45 portraits of community members from Reading, photographed in 2026, with writing by four artists and creative writers. The University of Reading funded the printing of the portraits.
Seven minutes to help make hair care safer
Our Black heritage hair care survey helps build the evidence for safer, more transparent products.
Contact
Let's work together
Whether you want to attend a workshop, take part in our research, commission training or partner with us, we'd like to hear from you.
- info@triybe.com
- Partnerships
- Tyler Hinkson, Partnership and Networking Lead
tyler@triybe.com - Phone
- 07399 311941
Call or text. Please leave a message and we will get back to you. - Hours
- Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
- @triybe_
- Registered office
- TRIYBE C.I.C.
Kemp House, 152–160 City Road
London EC1V 2NX - Company no.
- 13928102 (England & Wales)
- Policies
- Our safeguarding policy and other policies are available on request. Email info@triybe.com.
Partnerships and commissioning
NHS trusts, universities, local authorities and funders: email us with a short outline of your project and timescales.
Take part in our research
Help build the evidence on Black heritage hair care safety. It takes about seven minutes.