Former footballer turned TV presenter Chris Kamara has helped to launch a new campaign to get children around the world back into education.

The former Swindon Town player is an ambassador of Street Child, an international education charity committed to helping the world's most marginalised children.

The charity’s ‘Back to School’ campaign was launched on Thursday, August 22, ahead of most UK children returning to their classrooms.

It aims to help thousands of children in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond access education - many for the first time.

Street Child supports children in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhereStreet Child supports children in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere (Image: Richard Pohle)

Over the past 15 years, Street Child has supported more than one million children to gain an education and currently operates in more than 25 countries.

However, figures suggest there are still more than 60 million primary school-aged children who are not currently in school.

For the equivalent of £1 a week, donors can support a child’s education for a whole year, and for every person who sets up a regular gift before the end of September, the charity will pledge to get one child back into school this term.

Mr Kamara said: "There was nothing like the buzz of the first day back at school - catching up with mates after the summer holidays, getting back on the football pitch and making new friends.

"But not all children are so lucky. Street Child does so much for kids across the world, making sure they get to learn in safe, fun environments when otherwise they would never get the chance."

As part of the campaign, Street Child has launched the 'Big School Walk', hoping to see hundreds of parents, pupils and teachers across the UK sporting orange, the charity's colour, in walks to school to help raise funds this September.

Street Child CEO and founder, Tom Dannatt, said: "As a dad, I know the joy of seeing my children prepare for their first day back at school.

"Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty – for every year spent in school, a child's life chances improve enormously, and so do the lives of future generations.

"For just £1 a week, we can get a child into school this year, and quickly on their way to a better future.

"We are experts in connecting children to education in the most disaster-hit and lowest-income countries around the world, such as Cameroon and Afghanistan.”