Away from the pitch, Chelsea Foundation’s schools have been competing in the Premier League Inspires Challenge, with groups of Key Stage 3 and 4 students hoping to represent the Chelsea Foundation in a national event at Wembley Stadium in April.

The Premier League Inspires Challenges asks students to delve deeper into important social topics with this year’s focus being: ‘This is everyone’s game – gender equality’. Students have been tasked with creating a social impact project in their schools which would help raise awareness and encourage constructive dialogue.

The schools involved for Chelsea are Heathside Walton, London Oratory, Fulham Cross Girls, Fulham Cross Academy, Westside, Tomlinscote and Winston Churchill Schools, as well as Chelsea Academy Scholars in the Inclusive Education Trust.

After presenting their idea for a social impact project to fellow students and judges from the Chelsea FC Foundation, a winning group will be selected from each school. These groups will then be invited to Stamford Bridge next month to present their finalised project. The overall winning school will then have the honour of representing the Chelsea Foundation at the national stadium.

A teacher from Fulham Cross School said: ‘I was really impressed with the work our students have put forward in the Premier League Inspires Challenge. It was so pleasing to see students who are normally so shy to even put their hand up in class engaged and motivated by the project.’

Lisa Manley, Chelsea Foundation schools and learning manager, said: ‘The holistic education provided by Premier League Inspires makes a profound impact on its students, using football to help them understand important social issues in our communities. The programme continues to offer life-changing opportunities to those. who require additional support, providing them with key building blocks as they progress their education.’

Premier League Inspires is a personal development programme, funded by the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association, through the Premier League Charitable Fund.

The programme uses the power of football to inspire young people aged 11 to 18 to develop the personal skills and positive attitudes needed to succeed in life.