A KIND-HEARTED Robert Burns Academy teacher has completed a successful appeal to support pupils and families with the financial struggles and pressures of prom.

Robyn Connor, who is an English teacher at the new super school, set out to find anyone who could donate a prom dress or a suit for pupils to wear at this year’s event.

With the expense that can come with a prom night, and the fact that this will be the school’s first prom night together, Robyn was eager to do what she could to ensure as many pupils as possible were able to enjoy the night.

She made a plea on Facebook for anyone with a spare suit or dress to kindly donate it for others to use.

Cumnock Chronicle: The campus official opening The campus official opening

The idea was born when Robyn realised she had her own dress locked away and it dawned on her that she would probably never wear it again.

She shared this idea with some of her close friends and all of a sudden she had a few dresses that could be donated already.

After the facebook post, which was shared almost 900 times, Robyn was inundated with donations.

It was fair to say Robyn was overwhelmed with the response.

She said: “When I thought about my dress and that my friends would be in the same boat, I thought I would ask some people on Facebook and I was honestly expecting about 10 dresses.

READ MORE: Robert Burns Academy teacher challenge for Alzheimer's Scotland

“At last count I’ve ended up with about 125 dresses and about 50 suits, which is crazy.

“But this will be amazing to help people who maybe otherwise wouldn’t be able to go to prom because of the expense.

“The generosity of people has blown me away.

“There were three girls who went to this school last year and their prom got cancelled because of Covid but they already had their dresses and they’ve never been worn.

“These girls have been willing to donate these dresses so I thought that was just the height of kindness.

READ MORE: Robert Burns school pupils take on project

“I was thinking about if people would feel a bit anxious about coming for help, but hearing people talking about it, I’m hoping that it might become the norm for people not to have to fork out this money for prom.”

Robyn also has ideas about what the dresses and suits can be used for after this year’s prom.

She added: “We’re hoping to bank the donations away after this year and then they can be kept in the school for future proms and pupils.

“But also we’re hoping it might help with girls if they need a dress for a wedding, and likewise with boys.

“They can also hopefully be used if a boy needs a suit for an interview or and stuff like that, so hopefully they will go to good use and help a lot of people in the future”.