Television celebrity Phil Gallagher has agreed to champion the leading children’s charity, the KM Charity Team.

Phil plays the character Mister Maker on the CBeebies television show and is starring as Wishee Washee in Aladdin, this year’s Marlowe Theatre pantomime. He has become an Honorary Patron for the KM Charity Team, which runs a number of school-based services including the county's Walk to School campaign and the popular primary school reading scheme, Buster's Book Club.

Phil, from Medway, said: "I am delighted to become an Honorary Patron of the KM Charity Team. The charity's work in schools and the community over the last decade has been impressive and helped improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of Kent families each year.

"I am particularly looking forward to supporting the walk to school and literacy initiatives."

More than 200 primary schools are signed up to KM Walk to School schemes such as Walk on Wednesday (WOW), Active Bug and Green Footsteps and last academic year the campaign successfully removed more than 200,000 car journeys from Kent roads.

Literacy scheme Buster’s Book Club has rolled out to all schools across the county following last year’s successful ten-school pilot, which clocked up over half a million minutes of home reading.

Supporters include Kent County Council, Medway Council, Ashford Borough Council, Thanet District Council, Canterbury City Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, Mini Babybel, Countrystyle Recycling, Specsavers, Chaucer Foundation, Eurostar, Southern Water, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Orbit South, Jelf Insurance Brokers, Leeds Castle, Independent Music Productions and Whitefriars shopping area.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said he was thrilled that Phil had agreed to take on the ambassadorial role, adding: “Mister Maker is a huge hit with the children taking part in our initiatives so we are delighted to have Phil's support.”

Phil appears in Aladdin alongside Scott Maslen (EastEnders), Ben Roddy and Lloyd Hollett. The show runs from Friday 28 November to Sunday 11 January. For more information and to book tickets, visit marlowetheatre.com or call the box office on 01227 787 787.

For more information about KM Walk to School projects and Buster’s Book Club visit kmwalktoschool.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291 (Lo Call).