Schoolchildren in Lewisham will have PE lessons at Chelsea football club’s training ground under a new scheme.
The Chelsea FC Foundation – which is Chelsea’s social responsibility programme - will set up shop at a school in Lewisham in a bid towiden access to the sport in the area.
The partnership will see two full-time staff members from the foundation based at the £21,000 a year St Dunstan’s College.
As part of the scheme Chelsea Foundation coaches will train St Dunstan’s pupils. They will also organise visits for them and other schoolchildren to the football club’s training ground in Cobham, where they could be training alongside stars including Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling.
St Dunstan’s will open up its grounds to host sporting events for other schools, including coaching sessions, sports days and inter-schools tournaments. The Chelsea Foundation staff will also organise a calendar of events for the wider community throughout the year.
Nick Hewlett, head of St Dunstan’s, said: “We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Chelsea FC Foundation.
“We are passionate about our local community, and I am particularly pleased that this new partnership will not only benefit our pupils, but young people across the whole borough. It really does have the potential to transform football across south-east London.”
Daniel Jacquart, Head of Football Development at Chelsea FC Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to be working with St Dunstan’sCollege offering bespoke football opportunities for pupils and the local community.
“Chelsea Foundation’s highly qualified and experienced coaching will enable players of all levels to develop and enhance their footballing ability and skills within a first-class environment.”
Danny Gower, Assistant Head at St Dunstan’s, said: “Sport plays such a key role in supporting the development of character. Young people learn about themselves, how they respond to challenges and pressure, how they work with team-mates and opponents and about the culture that they perform within.”
