A Cumbrian building society manager who developed alopecia has paid tribute to her colleagues for their support.

Their kindness, wise words and acceptance helped her to keep her career on track and come to terms with the loss of her hair, she says.

Rebecca Gibson has been a manager at The Cumberland for 10 years and is currently in charge of its Barrow-in-Furness and Ulverston branches.

“Walking into work with a wig for the first time was daunting, but everyone was supportive,” she says.

“I have had a lot of kindness from my line managers, my branch colleagues and also from customers. As a branch team at The Cumberland, we are very close and supportive of each other.”

Rebecca, 36, lives in Stainton near Barrow, with her husband Richard and boys Albie, four, and Austin, 14 months.

Alopecia, which can cause the loss of some or all of the hair on the head and body, can take a heavy emotional toll as it impacts on a person’s appearance and sense of identity. 

Rebecca decided to speak out about the condition in order to help others.

“Alopecia is quite common, a lot of people don’t talk about it and that’s ok,” she says.

“But I prefer to be quite vulnerable and open, it’s helped me navigate the condition and I hope that helps other people.”

Her symptoms started in 2022 with the loss of one of her eyebrows and progressed with gradual loss of the hair on her head, her eyelashes and eventually all body hair.

“When it starts it’s the unknown, you start to get these patches and don’t know if or when they are going to stop – it is a really challenging time,” she says.

In 2023 Rebecca went to Tenerife on holiday and made a big decision when she returned.

“I was wearing wigs, but they are not easy to find the right one that feels like you and I was experimenting with headbands.

“I got back home and decided to take back control – and I shaved my head,” she says.

“It felt quite empowering. It was at home and Richard did it. I had Albie with me – I wanted to show him it doesn’t matter about your hair, it’s you as a person that matters. 

“Afterwards I felt fine. I have not got upset. I can’t control the alopecia. I just thought I needed to deal with this and find a way. 

“It’s also important to say that we all deal with things differently and it’s ok to be upset and feel different emotions if you’re experiencing hair loss.”

Discovering a supportive community on Instagram also proved crucial.

“They helped me to realise I wasn’t on my own,” says Rebecca.

The condition also has huge implications for a person’s work life. “My colleagues at The Cumberland were great,” she says. “I can be open, and I would show them the back of my hair and say, ‘Is it getting worse, how does it look?’ It would be very difficult if I couldn’t be open.”

Her manager was also very supportive.

“He said something that stuck with me – he said don’t let this become who you are, your identity. That helped me through.”

Rebecca was encouraged to take time, if she needed it, to see her dermatologist or try wigs and she also received help from The Cumberland’s in-house occupational therapist.

She says: “I have grieved for my hair, and I don’t need that to be who I am. I have a couple of good wigs and many people don’t know I wear them because they are such high quality. I’m at peace with it.”

The culture of support and kindness at The Cumberland has also helped.

“Support from your workplace is so important. You also need that bit of normality, and you need the income – what would it mean for my house and children if I couldn’t come to work?”

The Cumberland, which promotes an ethos of Kinder Banking, has many initiatives to support its team including mental health and wellbeing first aiders, a menopause group, a men’s mental health group and family friendly policies.

“I really feel the People and Culture team are always looking at what can we do to support colleagues,” says Rebecca.