CHILDREN’S charity the NSPCC is hoping to turn the town green as more than 10,000 school pupils don its trademark colour for one day next week.

So far 16 schools in the town have signed up for this year’s NSPCC Green Gear Day on May 25 and organisers are calling for more to get involved.

The list of secondary and primary schools taking part include Commonweal, Isambard, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Dorcan Technology College, Lethbridge, Drove Primary, St Marys Primary, Noremarsh, Orchid Vale and Robert Le Kyng.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of ChildLine and the money raised from the event will go towards the NSPCC’s local services in the town, which are set to get a huge boost with the building of a new service hub later this year.

Fundraising volunteer Caroline Morgan said she wanted to see more people get involved and help to raise vital funds for the charity.

She said: “I really want to turn Swindon green and it would be great if all the schools could get involved. We have 16 at the moment but we want to get to 20.

“We would also love to have businesses on board too and maybe we can widen it out next year as it grows and grows.

“All you have to do is wear green and give any change you can spare – even just £1.

“The great thing about this is it’s kids raising money for other kids and it all stays local.”

Some 1.5 million kids called ChildLine last year and the top reason was bullying or cyber bullying as well as family relationships, abuse, self harm.

Swindon has two NSPCC centres: the NSPCC Swindon Centre in Victoria Road, Old Town, a therapeutic centre offering counselling and other services for children who have been abused; and the North Swindon Family Centre, in Atworth Close, Penhill, which is a family centre providing help and advice.

These centres cost a total of £702,000 a year to run and volunteers generally generate around £30,000 a year towards this through fundraising activities.

Anyone who wants to get involved with the Green Gear day can contact Caroline Morgan on caro@sapphiretech.co.uk or call 07769 680690.