Rebecca Marshall’s project grew from a small idea in her living room to a service that has helped hundreds of young people in Salford find free outfits for their prom.
She started the Prom Dress and the Suit Recycling Project after seeing how much it cost to buy an outfit for her son’s prom.
Rebecca had worked with young people in the NHS, schools and the YMCA for more than 20 years and went on to set up Body Mind Educate (BME) to support young people in the Salford community.
The idea for the project came when she was buying a suit for her son’s prom shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic. The cost was much higher than she expected, and her parents had to step in to help pay.
“I would have struggled to afford it,” she said. “He may not have got the suit that he wanted or the extra ones that he wanted. He might not have even been able to go.”
Rebecca decided to ask for help on Facebook. She invited local people to donate dresses and suits they no longer needed.
She planned to give these clothes to young people who wanted to attend their prom but could not afford an outfit.
The project started in her living room and helped 17 young people in its first year. It later moved to Linnyshaw Mill in Walkden, where Rebecca joined forces with Gemma Fish and a wider community team.
Last year, the project helped 217 young people attend their prom for free. Rebecca estimates that more than 500 young people have received support since the project began.
The project accepts donations from local people, businesses and organisations. These include formal dresses, suits, shoes and jewellery.
Donations have arrived from places such as Ramsbottom, the Wirral and Warrington. Businesses and organisations, including Tesco and ITV, have also supported the project.
However, Rebecca believes the initiative offers much more than clothing. For her, prom is an important milestone in a young person’s life, and nobody should miss out because their family cannot afford an expensive outfit.
“Prom is really about a celebration of a milestone,” she said. “It’s a celebration of moving from childhood into adulthood.”
Rebecca believes young people should not miss out because of their grades, behaviour or financial circumstances.
“It shouldn’t be about attainment, it shouldn’t be about being able to reach that goal and it shouldn’t be about financial costs,” she said.
Rebecca understands that families must put food, school uniforms and other basic needs first. Spending hundreds of pounds on one outfit can be difficult for many parents.
The project helps remove some of this pressure. It gives young people the chance to enjoy their special night without adding to their family’s costs.
Rebecca encourages young men to keep their suits after the event so they can wear them for future occasions, including job interviews. Dresses and other donated items can also be returned to help another young person.
One of Rebecca’s proudest achievements is seeing young people return to help others.She said three young women who previously received support have now returned as volunteers. They help other girls find their own prom outfits.
She sees this as a sign of the project’s impact. Young people who once needed help are now helping others in their community.
“I never really thought about how many young people have got that memory,” she said.
She added that seeing kindness passed on to others keeps her motivated.
Her commitment to helping young people also comes from her own experiences. She returned to education in her late twenties and went on to earn two degrees while raising her two children as a single parent.
Through Body Mind Educate, she wants young people to believe in their own abilities and future.
“We teach that every pathway is achievable,” she said. “Just find somebody that will get you in the right doors.”
The Prom Dress and the Suit Recycling Project are just two of of several services run by Body Mind Educate.
The organisation also runs apprenticeship programmes and career support for young people who are not in education, employment or training. It also works with young offenders to help them return to their communities and find work opportunities.
She explained that the prom service can also help the team learn about a young person’s future plans through discussing college, training, jobs and apprenticeships. This helps the team understand what support each young person may need next.
Rebecca credits Gemma Fish, the team at the mill, volunteers, friends and family for helping the project grow. “She’s a warrior and our very own Walkden Wonder Woman,” she said.
What began with a Facebook post and a few donations has become a service that supports hundreds of young people.
For Rebecca, the aim is simple: every young person should have the chance to celebrate an important moment in their life, whatever their family can afford.
