Calls for more support to tackle 'prom poverty' across Leeds

It's claimed more and more disadvantaged Leeds families are struggling to afford the rising cost of sending their kids to their school prom.

Events have been happening across our city in the last few weeks but almost half of you told us on Twitter that an outfit's set you back more than £100.

There are now calls for more support for low income families who can't afford it.

Emma runs the Exquisite project in Leeds which lends suits and dresses to those struggling:

"There's a lot of deprivation. Families, whether they're on a low income or whether they're on benefits, have priorities - bills and putting food on the table is a priority. If you've got more than one child, for example twins, that's double the cost. The cost of suits or gowns - to hire or buy them - is just so expensive.

"You're looking at proper gown attire for prom - it's £100 plus. No-one can justify that. You've got the shoes to go with it, you've got the handbag, it goes on and on and on for girls. For boys it's some fancy shoes that they might never use again. How can you justify that when there's gas, elebtric, food and water to put on the table?"

Emma runs the scheme with no funding - and is forced to charge parents for the cost of dry cleaning.

She says there are so many families struggling to afford proms, there should be more support available:

"I have been approached by schools who say we have a huge number of pupils in our school who can't afford an outfit for prom.

"There's Universal Credit that's mixed things up for a lot of people, there's the benefit cap and then on top of that you have a lot of school hiring out venues so there's a ticket cost for that. That's a cost of £30 plus. All that added together, it goes into the hundreds really."

• Prom
• leeds