A campaign to encourage people to donate their old dresses to a special charity cause has already captured the imagination of those in the bridal industry. Alexia was keen to get involved – not only has the company given a collection of gowns to Their Hope Our Hands, but its office staff have been raiding their own wardrobes to find things that will make a difference to young students’ lives at a time when others, who are more lucky, are thinking about celebrating their leaving-school prom.

In the UK proms are a multi-million pound industry and grow year-on-year. Howeve,r the young girls in Limpopo, South Africa, believed that a prom would sadly never be an option for them. One one girl said: “Such things simply do not and cannot happen in a rural school in Limpopo.”

The charity aims to prove them wrong and give the hard-working children something to look forward to. Alexia stockist, Sallyanne at Ever After Bridal Wear in Batley, became aware of the programme and got Alexia on board to support it. “Many of the girls’ parents can’t afford to buy their daughters wonderful ball gowns, but we want to make them feel like Cinderella for a night. I have lots of old dresses which will never get worn, so it is nice to see that they will be used for a good cause. The charity calls me the fairy godmother.”

Their Hope Our Hands was originally set up to help give unfortunate children in rural countries the gift of learning. They send the children stationary and other materials to enhance their life opportunities. Some of the children have the aspiration but not the facilities to release their potential. Many of the children work hard and have ambitions to become doctors, but they don’t get to celebrate their hard work like we do in the UK. The charity wants to make it happen and prove that “Some dreams do come true.”

If you have any unwanted dresses lurking in your wardrobe please visit: http://www.theirhopeourhands.co.uk