GLAMOROUS outfits were hung with care to make sure prom night dreams come true for 100 year 11 pupils.
Ninestiles, an academy, joined forces with non-profit company Madrina to ensure no young person missed their prom due to the cost of an outfit.
The Acocks Green school hosted its much-anticipated Prom Shop event which saw a range of free prom outfits, shoes, and bags for those who might otherwise have been unable to attend their school prom.
The event, with Madrina, was dedicated to ensuring that cost was never a barrier to young people marking one of the most memorable occasions of their secondary school years.
Outfits were available for both male and female learners, with modest options also provided for those requiring culturally appropriate attire. This ensured the event was welcoming and inclusive for all.
A total of 100 pupils from Ninestiles received free outfits through the Prom Shop with the invitation also extended to learners from across Summit Learning Trust, whose colleagues attended and benefited from the same offer.
Alex Hughes, headteacher of Ninestiles, said: “Prom is one of those moments young people look forward to throughout their time at secondary school and every learner deserves to experience it fully. By working with Madrina, we have been able to make sure that cost never stands in the way of that.
“Seeing our Year 11s walk into the Prom Shop and find an outfit they love, free of charge, is exactly the kind of thing that makes a real difference to a young person’s confidence and sense of belonging.”
By removing the financial barrier to prom attendance, the school and Madrina have ensured young people from all backgrounds could share in an important secondary school experience.
Stefanie Lakin began Madrina in 2022 after she saw a girl at a school she was teaching at did not have an outfit for the prom and was overhwhelmed by the community response when she reached out for help.
Knowing that other colleagues may be facing a similar situation with pupils in other schools Stefanie reached out and Madrina was born.
Beneficiaries include looked-after children, young carers, refugees, those experiencing mental health challenges, and pupils from families living in financial hardship.
