Solihull ‘fairy prom godmother’ gifts 1,000 free dresses to girls

Louise BrierleyBBC Midlands TodayBBCStefanie Lakin mentioned she had seen the strain proms placed on familiesA trainer has gained the repute of being a fairy godmother – by gifting virtually 1,000 free promenade attire value as much as £750 to teenage women. With the prices of faculty proms hovering, Stefanie Lakin from Solihull has a mission for each youngster to dazzle on the end-of-year occasion.She arrange the charity Madrina in 2022 and has given out virtually 1,000 attire thus far. She additionally has free fits for the boys, with clothes donated by native retailers. “Our motto is ‘the promise for all – everybody ought to go to the ball’,” Mrs Lakin instructed the BBC. “Not everybody has the identical monetary scenario and actually what Madrina needs to do is make proms inclusive of everybody,” Mrs Lakin mentioned.Proms costing dad and mom hundredsAmong these receiving attire are two of Florence Okello’s daughters.The only mom from Birmingham mentioned: “I used to fret rather a lot about, how am I going to afford the entire bundle?”The 57-year-old mentioned the mixed price of the outfit, hair, make up, nails and eyelashes might run into lots of of kilos.”After I heard about Madrina by means of the college, I used to be ecstatic,” she mentioned.Florence Okello mentioned she was grateful to the charity for taking among the monetary burden awayThe charity collaborates with faculties, native charities and oldsters to determine households in want.With the assistance of volunteers, Mrs Lakin has organised pop-up promenade retailers at about 80 faculties.She mentioned when college students attempt on the attire you’ll be able to see their “physique language change” and an “outpouring of confidence”.”I want I might bottle the squeals of enjoyment and pleasure,” she added.The charity additionally present footwear and baggage that are donated from promenade costume retailers, producers and members of the general public.’Everybody’s entitled to look fabulous’Anna Louise Robes in Solihull was one of many first shops to donate attire to Madrina, gifting ones that retail from £250 as much as £750.Proprietor Rebecca Toftebjeig mentioned when women got here into the store to attempt on the promenade attire it was an important day.”It upsets us to know that some women cannot have that second due to their monetary scenario,” she mentioned.”They’re entitled in addition to anybody else to go to promenade and look fabulous.”Fred Stephenson mentioned some pupils had averted coming to the promenade as a result of they might not afford itWith the spiralling prices related to proms, faculties have been eager to work with charities to take the strain off dad and mom who is perhaps struggling financially.Fred Stephenson who’s head of Yr 11 at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Faculty in Kings Norton, Birmingham, mentioned the charity had given many college students “dignity”.Prior to now, workers on the faculty sensed that some Yr 11s weren’t attending promenade as a result of they might not afford it, he mentioned. Round 30 pupils had obtained attire and fits, with youngsters getting the “correct boutique expertise”, Mr Stephenson added.Mrs Lakin hopes to proceed to unfold the phrase so she might help extra college students go to their proms.”Function modelling kindness is a superb message to younger individuals, that somebody on the market is sort of a fairy godmother taking care of them,” she mentioned.