A North East charitable organisation is offering 'pay what you can' Halloween costumes to help people celebrate the season.

Uniform for All Northumberland (UAN) in Blyth are selling Halloween costumes at £2 and below to help struggling families celebrate the spooky season.

The charitable organisation originally priced the outfits at £2, but later decided to copy their uniform policy and offer them to people on a 'pay what you can' basis.

Jennifer Wake, from Blyth, who runs the clothes bank, said Halloween had become increasingly expensive for families struggling with rising costs, and this scheme was designed to allow less-fortunate children to take part.

Read more: Bishop Auckland charity selling £2 costumes to help foodbank

The Northern Echo:

Ms Wake, after searching shops costumes and discovering £14 was the cheapest she could find, said costume prices had become "absolutely ridiculous."

"I've spoken to a lot of families over the years, they prefer to contribute to something rather than be given it" she added.

"Halloween is a particularly busy period because every kid loves Halloween don't they?

"The cost for parents is quite phenomenal, it can really mount up.

"The idea of us doing it is so that it can be accessible to every child rather than a select few."

The Northern Echo:

She said the money goes back into the community and is used to purchase uniforms, shoes and other things.

Meanwhile, she said her shop works with many others to ensure families' needs are met across the North East.

She said they work with organisations such as Social Justice Lass, as well as Support and Grow North East.

Adding to this, Ms Wake said they also work with local councils, police, social services, and the NHS who recently did a uniform amnesty across their trusts.

Read more: Hundreds expected to visit spooky Seaham 'coal mine'

The Northern Echo:

When speaking about the work of charitable organisations supporting people, she said: "I think it's really important, even [more] so now, with the rise of the cost of living for absolutely everything.

"Families are struggling to pay their energy bills, the interest rate's gone up.

"Kids wouldn't be able to do because parents wouldn't have as much disposable income. I think it's going to be like this for many years to be honest."

The Northern Echo:

She said after Halloween ends, the shop will switch to providing families useful items for Christmas.

Ms Wake said, as a parent, she greatly sympathises with those struggling to help provide their children a Halloween or Christmas experience.

Additionally, she said she originally set out to do this because she enjoyed helping people, but feels her work is now a necessity.

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here