He said: ‘It has always been important to me to create a club that is welcoming to everyone. We actively celebrate our cultural and religious diversity and, through the work of the Chelsea Foundation, deliver programmes to promote equality and tackle discrimination all over the world. However, we are all too often reminded there is more to be done.

‘The Holocaust was a crime without parallel in history. We must never forget such atrocities and must do our utmost to prevent them from ever happening again.’

Barriers continue to be broken down by the Foundation with highlights from the past year including the 10th anniversary of our ground-breaking Asian Star initiative and our inaugural Disability Showcase, when more than 800 disabled players, from a host of professional and amateur teams, strutted their stuff at Cobham and Stamford Bridge during a fun-filled weekend in May.

Education remains a priority for the Foundation with a broad and diverse range of programmes that engage with primary schools, secondary schools, further education colleges, the world of business and senior supporters, offering 1,400 sessions per year in 57 schools in London and Surrey.

We continue to work with schools throughout the south-east of England and in 2018 launched a new girls-only sixth-form football academy at Blenheim High School in Epsom, which allows girls aged 16 to 18 to benefit from the unique opportunity of having an academic-led education and being able to gain A-level qualifications alongside a full programme of professional football coaching.

In partnership with St Mary's University, we also offer a football-based academic programme, which offers students a bespoke programme in coaching and administration alongside practical work experience, creating a new generation of highly trained and qualified Foundation staff.

Our social inclusion work is operating in some of the most deprived areas in the country and is providing diversionary activities for thousands of young people.



The Chelsea Foundation Futsal Club runs three senior futsal teams, allowing players to earn academic and coaching qualifications while competing at a national level, as well as our junior sides reaching the national finals in the Under-10s, Under-13s and Under-15s age groups.

Our female engagement programmes include Regional Talent Centres (RTCs), Football Development Centres and the Premier League Girls grassroots engagement initiative.

That is on top of the regular Chelsea Soccer Schools for girls and boys of all abilities taking place across the South-East all year round, and Foundation coaches visiting schools to deliver PE lessons focused on physical and sporting development.

The Chelsea Foundation is an independent registered charity but we still support more than 250 separate charities each year through the donation of signed merchandise.

We also have a long-term exclusive partnership with Plan International to raise money and awareness of their work and we remain the only English club to have a charity logo on our European match kit. The Plan logo also features on the Chelsea FC Women’s shirts throughout the season.

