A MOTHER from Tadley has started fundraising for schools across Hampshire.

Simone Freire has started a Just Giving page to raise money to help schools, who will start to welcome back pupils from reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

She says that she feels like parents are "swapping shifts" as more children go back to education whilst people start to return to work.

The risk director for a financial services firm told the Gazette: "I just wanted to do something on the back of what is going on.

"There have been so many different ideas and causes to help.

"I woke up this morning thinking that we are going to be swapping shifts when we send them back to school very soon."

Simone, who is originally from Brazil before coming to the UK in 1994 and eventually settling in Tadley in 2001, has two children of her own.

And whilst neither are in the year groups that will return to school on Monday, Simone believes that the fundraiser will help them keep children safe at school and for mental health support.

You can support Simone's appeal here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/onepoundperperson.