Dressing up helps children to hope and dream. For one little girl, it has also enabled her to raise more than £5,000 for charity in just 23 days. Eight-year-old Pearl Parkin has set herself the challenge of dressing up as a different character each day to raise funds for Save the Children through her fundraising page. In the same vein as the Kent-based Marsh family, who have set YouTube alight with their musical spoofs of lockdown life, and Toyah Wilcox and Robert Fripp’s lockdown videos, Parkin decided to counter the boredom of lockdown by creating a new persona for herself every day. Using materials found around her home in Bath, Somerset, Pearl has built up a growing Instagram following by recreating the looks of Billie Eilish, David Bowie, Frida Kahlo, Lady Gaga and Jackie Weaver of Handforth parish council fame. Pearl and her 10-year-old brother, Elliot, had aimed to reach £1,000 in time for their return to the classroom on 8 March, but have now smashed that target. “I want to raise money for children around the world who might need help right now because of Covid, or other reasons,” she said. “I find it really upsetting that some children, like refugees, don’t have the same as me. “I decided to dress up each day because I love making costumes with my family. My favourite outfit so far has probably been Lady Gaga from her Telephone video. Next, I’d like to try dressing up as Ariana Grande, Princess Leia or maybe someone from Little Mix. “My advice to adults struggling to make an effort with their clothes during lockdown is to just give dressing up a try because it does make you feel really happy.” Elliot said: “The Lady Gaga headpiece is completely made out of paper, except some tinfoil used for the telephone dial. For the stick that Rey Skywalker uses, it’s actually an old pinata stick with the fabric ripped off and then some different old fabric glued on. The Björk costume we completely made out of paper.” Tammy Hoskins, a community fundraising and engagement manager for Save the Children, said: “We are so grateful for the support of Pearl and her family – the costumes are so fun and have really brought a smile to our faces. Save the Children’s work is made possible by inspiring children like Pearl and their amazing commitment to make the world a better place for other children.”