Walker teen organising a prom for pupils prevented from attending a school leavers' event

Meet the teen who is dedicating her summer to organising a school leavers' prom for pupils who were prevented from attending one.

Skyla Wilkinson said she has looked forward to her prom day since she was a little girl. But after struggling to adjust back into school life following the pandemic, she was placed in alternative provision - education away from school - and was never given the opportunity to attend a prom.

The 16-year-old, from Walker, said: "Prom is something that we've looked forward to since we were little girls and we were gutted that we didn't get a prom. Originally me and my friends were just going to have a party but I sat and I thought - if I know this many people that are in the same situation as me, I may as well put it out there to see if anyone else would like to come because I know what it feels like first hand.

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"There's people I don't even know who have had the courage to come forward and tell me their story and they're more than welcome to come."

She explained that there are so many different reasons and circumstances which could lead to a child being unable to attend a prom, including medical reasons or attending alternative provision. And Skyla hopes that she will be able to create "a night to remember" for any 2023 and 2024 school leavers who didn't get the chance to celebrate with their classmates.

The teen, who has aspirations of becoming a children's solicitor, aims to host the prom night in August at a venue in her local area and has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise the funds for room hire and other costs associated with organising the event. But she has also been working to secure donations of prom dresses and suits for those who attend to ensure everyone can look and feel amazing on the day, regardless of their financial situation.

She had originally set out to raise funds to buy second hand dresses and suits. But her dad Ian Wilkinson explained that once people hear about the work Skyla is doing, they have been donating the outfits, including one which was being sold for £300.

Ian said: "There was a lass in tears because Skyla had managed to get her a dress, it does mean a lot to them. You'll always get critics saying why weren't you in school and why weren't you given these things? But there's a wide range of reasons why these children haven't been given a prom - illness, parent's illness, moving away - there have been all sorts of reasons."

Skyla added: "I'll be so satisfied and so grateful that I've been able to give kids like me the chance that schools haven't. Even though we don't all know each other it will be a safe space where people get to meet new friends and celebrate that we did get through high school and we did do our GCSEs and everything that everyone else did. I would be so satisfied knowing that people turned up and had a night to remember."