EX-PUPILS at a Herefordshire school have donated their unused prom dresses and suits to current students.

Youngsters worried about the cost of prom dresses and suits will be able to go to the ball thanks to the new recycling initiative at Earl Mortimer College.

Staff member Samantha Neil came up with the idea and she donated the dress her daughter never got to wear due to the event being cancelled because of Covid in 2020.

After she posted about her gift on social media, she was inundated with offers for nearly new suits and dresses from proms gone by.

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Soldiers wife Zoe Summers sent frocks and suits all the way from Cyprus after reading about the appeal on Facebook. 

“I heard the school were asking for donations of dresses for prom night I thought it was a fantastic idea," she said.

“As well as alleviating some of the financial burden that Prom can bring it also shows how eco aware their generation are. 

“I love the fact that they dont want to be part of the disposable/wear once fashion culture and are actively seeking out pre-loved dresses that they are happy to alter and breathe new life into. 

“The scheme is a winning idea all round, I really hope it catches on and more schools can do something similar.”

The school also received shoes, jewellery and other accessories with contributions coming from across the country and as far afield as Cyprus with army wives sending gowns and suits.

They even had bridal dresses sent in from a local shop due to close as well as free outfits from local charity shops.

The expensive gear will be given to students who cannot afford to buy clothes for the prom or those who wish to be sustainable with their evening attire.

The school has now collected over 50 dresses and gowns and nearly 20 suits in a variety of styles and fashions, amounting to thousands of pounds in donations.

Deputy safeguarding lead Mrs Neil said she was surprised with how the social media post snowballed and led to thousands of pounds worth of donations in a few weeks.

It has become so much more than helping struggling families, she said.

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"The school eco club has got involved and now most of the students want to go in recycled clothing so as to be more sustainable with their choice," said Mrs Neil.

"At the end of the day these dresses and suits cost hundreds of pounds and are often only ever worn once and then discarded.

"Our students are very conscious of fast fashion and are actually choosing to wear the recycled dresses and suits.

"We are hoping by getting the story out into the community other school will follow suit, pun intended."

Assistant headteacher at Earl Mortimer Kelly Gummer said teachers have worked alongside students to promote how to be eco-friendly within the community, such as litter picking and teaching about fast fashion.

"We are delighted to find out that students have really engaged with this mindset, creating, and designing their own dresses for the prom too," she said.

"This is a wonderful initiative, and we can't thank the local and wider community enough, along with staff in school for getting behind this initiative and showing what school spirt is all about here at Earl Mortimer College."