CHELSEA Foundation continues to deliver a range of programmes during the latest lockdown to help those most in need, and it is now calling on fans to help support wider communities and increase the number of people helped. 

2020 lockdown saw the Foundation at the forefront of delivery, developing a range of innovative programmes to provide education, activities and wellbeing during unprecedented times. 

This was matched by the support for the NHS by the Football Club with free use of the hotel available to hospital workers, free food parcels for NHS staff and pensioner groups and support by the club and Chelsea fans to Refuge and NHS Charities Together. 

With the third lockdown now in place, the club is once more providing accommodation at Stamford Bridge to the National Health Service (NHS), which includes bed and breakfast, in the Copthorne Hotel. 

The continued lockdown means many groups and communities are facing issues such as social isolation, health and wellbeing problems, along with the school closures naturally have a detrimental effect on pupils’ educational achievements.

To combat this, the Foundation is now offering a variety of new online activities including giving pensioner groups the opportunity to access free exercise equipment and virtual exercise classes provided by members of the Chelsea staff as well as ongoing reminiscence and interactive sessions to tackle social isolation and loneliness.

To help support children learning from home and those still attending school, the Foundation recently launched their ‘Check-in with Chelsea’ programme, which is designed to remind children of the importance of checking in, staying focused and keeping active.

Pupils are also being supported in the classroom with subjects including maths, English and physical education, with daily activities also available online. The free online daily activities and resources can be accessed by registering at https://form.jotform.com/ChelseaEDU/CheckInInterest

Vulnerable families are also being provided with support through the donation of activity packs, workbooks and healthy lifestyle information to boost health and wellbeing throughout the lockdown period. 

The Foundation has also created a series of Team Talk support networks for groups to keep in touch and they are working with local foodbanks to establish collections and deliveries to those most affected by food poverty.

Simon Taylor, Head of Chelsea Foundation commented on the appeal:

“Over the past year, the Foundation has been continuingly adapting to overcome the challenges our communities have faced during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been difficult for everyone, but it’s been great to see the Chelsea Foundation team, club and the fans come together to support our communities when they need it most.

“We’ve been adapting our existing outreach programmes and introducing new initiatives and services to help those most needing support during lockdown but there’s still some way to go. With the club’s generous support through the matching of donations, we hope to be able to help even more vulnerable groups within the community that still need our help.”

How to support the Foundation’s appeal

With lockdown continuing throughout the country, they need your help to continue to deliver their much-needed support programmes to the local communities. 

To kick start the appeal the Club has agreed to donate an initial £10,000 and will match fund the first £10,000 raised by supporters, meaning that every donation will go even further to help those most in need.

A £10 donation will fund an additional exercise equipment package and online fitness sessions for a member of the pensioner group or alternatively provide a number of activity packs and online programmes to keep families active in these challenging times.

To donate towards the Foundation’s lockdown programme, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/chelseafcfoundation

To learn more on the club’s full COVID response, please visit: https://www.chelseafc.com/en/landing-pages/editorial/2021/covid-response