Welcome!
Founder of the global kindness movement, Do Something For Nothing, Joshua Coombes is an international speaker, author, and youth educator. For the last decade, Joshua has focused on creativity, vulnerability, and human connection to bring people together.
While working as a hairdresser in a UK salon in 2016, he began offering free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness, building close friendships with those he met.
With each encounter, it became clearer that simply being with the people he met was the most powerful aspect. Joshua began sharing stories on social media to shine a light on an issue that is all too often misunderstood, and his work went viral.
Whether speaking to a group of CEOs or teenagers in school settings, Joshua offers insights and strategies for building a true connection with ourselves and others. Using vulnerability as the driving force, Joshua offers a heartfelt reminder of our common humanity and the power of leading with empathy in our daily lives
Joshua was featured in the National Geographic documentary "The Story of Us" with Morgan Freeman and has authored the book "Do Something for Nothing. His recent TEDx talk, “The Art of Truly Seeing One Another,” will be published in summer 2026.
Joshua’s Speaking
The movement
work in schools
“Joshua’s stories show the power that empathy and compassion have to turn a common, everyday act into something transformative.”
- Michael Sheen, Actor
Do Something For Nothing
Across the world, people have joined Do Something For Nothing; yoga teachers offering their time to people who can’t afford it, students spending time having lunch with senior citizens who don’t have a family to visit them, and people using art, creativity, sports, education, and practical skills to uplift others in their communities who need them.
In a busy world, slowing down enough to lend a hand to someone in need can mean everything. These are the building blocks for our communities to thrive. All of us have the power to shape our culture in this way, by bringing more love, attention, and presence to our everyday actions. In the eyes of the world, it may mean nothing, but it will mean everything to that person. Read inspiring stories of people who have joined the movement below!
Joshua’s book
Through the simple act of a haircut, readers are taken on a geographical and emotional journey into the lives of people experiencing homelessness in different cities across the globe. Do Something for Nothing explores themes of love, acceptance, shame, and perseverance while inviting us to see ourselves in one another and dissolve the stigmas surrounding homelessness.
Book Joshua to Speak.
With a decade spent in this work, Joshua offers deep insights into building true connections in our daily lives, with empathy and vulnerability as the driving forces. Whether speaking to a group of CEOs or teenagers in school settings, Joshua’s talks leave a lasting impression, offering a heartfelt reminder of our common humanity.
Joshua was featured in the National Geographic documentary "The Story of Us" with Morgan Freeman and has authored the book "Do Something for Nothing." Today, he spends his time split between the US and Europe, with in-person availability in these locations, and virtual sessions offered internationally.
“in leading by example, Coombes is both thought-provoking and inspiring, making us each ask what more we might do to better see and care for our communities.”
- sophia bush, Actor & activist
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