By Ellenor Percival, News Manchester
![Rebecca with prom dresses](https://ichef.i.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d28a/live/788f1b90-32ec-11ef-bfb1-5f1679f1f07f.jpg.webp)
A mum was inspired to help youngsters daunted by the expense of going to their school proms after struggling with the cost of kitting her son out for his.
Rebecca Marshall, 42, said she had been shocked at the prices of suits for the event her son was set to go to.
She set up a project, The Prom Shop, which takes in used prom suits and gowns and passes them on for free to other youngsters.
Ms Marshall, from Walkden in Manchester, said the project helped 17 students get to their proms last year.
![Charity prom shop dress try on](https://ichef.i.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/446c/live/283f6c80-32fb-11ef-8c6c-299cff3cd7bb.jpg.webp)
Ms Marshall said: ”I don’t know anybody who isn’t struggling, who hasn’t cut back because of the cost-of-living crisis.”
She said she had only been able to afford the cost of the prom with help from her parents, and wanted to help others for whom the expense was too much.
”I started the community project, started asking people to donate anything that they had lurking at the back of their wardrobe,” she said.
Ms Marshall said she hoped what she was doing meant people could instead “fill the fridge or pay a bill” and not have to spend “unjustifiable money in this current climate”.
![Samantha Pearson in her free prom dress](https://ichef.i.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/dd2d/live/1d288f10-32ed-11ef-bfb1-5f1679f1f07f.jpg.webp)
The Prom Shop is based at Miss Marshall’s business Body Mind Educate in Walkden. Since the project started last year, local salons have come on board so young people can get their hair or nails done for free.
Samantha Pearson, 17, who was one of Rebecca’s first clients, said she nearly did not go to her prom because of the cost of a dress.
Samantha, from Swinton, added: ‘’I was able to get the dress of her dreams completely free.
“I’d have just been sitting at home, but that night turned into one of the most memorable nights ever.”