Chelsea Football Club and Chelsea Foundation are working with charities tackling homelessness across London this Christmas and beyond and the initiative launches today. We have famous faces supporting our Wrap Up Warm campaign and there is a heart-warming video to view, and Blues fans are able to donate in more than one way…
Often spoken of as the ‘most wonderful time of the year’, the festive period for many is the most difficult. Nearly 12,000 people were sleeping rough in London last year, with over 3,200 in south-west London alone.
To support the coldest this Christmas, Chelsea supporters and our neighbours can donate warm clothing which will be distributed to those in need across our local community during the build-up to Christmas.
However, clothing donations are a part-solution to a long-term societal problem and therefore, Chelsea Foundation is also appealing for financial donations which will be granted to charities in London tackling homelessness and its roots causes all year round.
Together, the Chelsea family has the opportunity to play our part and the much-needed items of warm clothing can be donated at designated drop-off points at upcoming matches.
The club will be making a donation from the proceeds from our festive retail range to Chelsea Foundation, which will be redistributed to charities working to support homelessness and its root causes in London. In addition, the men’s and women’s teams will be making a contribution with funds to support those that need it most.
This includes Barons Court Project, a charity based near to the Bridge and the only day centre in Hammersmith and Fulham supporting people experiencing homelessness. The charity is close to hearts of our fans, especially as the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust has worked with Barons Court Project for a number of years with various initiatives and campaigns, such as its annual Big Stamford Bridge Sleep Out when those taking part spend the night outside at the stadium to raise funds.
How many clothes donated and how much money generated by the fundraising will be announced when it culminates at the Boxing Day fixture versus Fulham.
Heralding the start of the Wrap Up Warm campaign is a festive film featuring the Chelsea family, brought together in a way no one has seen before.
The cast reflects the diversity of what makes our club so strong, with players including Sam Kerr and Christopher Nkunku, legendary Blues striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and global music star Central Cee alongside his fellow true-blue Chelsea fan and longstanding Madness singer Suggs, all wrapped up and styled in our warmest seasonal wear as a young fan finds himself transported to the centre of a Christmas photoshoot where he meets his hero, Cole Palmer.
Leave the cold to Cole - a first chance to view the video is here…
Laura Cordingley, chief executive officer of Chelsea Foundation said: ‘With over 3,000 people sleeping rough in our local community, it is crucial to be supporting individuals and families affected by homelessness and its root causes during the festive period and beyond.
‘To help tackle this, we will be working with the club, supporters and local organisations to donate warm clothing to those who need it most this Christmas, whilst also raising funds that will support charities tackling homelessness and its root causes in London longer term.’
You can also give the gift of warmth to Chelsea fans you love as an extensive collection of clothing ranges will be on sale at the Megastore at Stamford Bridge and our online store, with festive-inspired knitted products and gifting options available, along with lifestyle items including a first-ever Nike Premium range, the latest edition of the Nike women’s Fall Collection, and a Blue Out retro-inspired range focused on the fan-favourite 1962/63 home shirt – the season of an infamous ‘Big Freeze’ winter and a young Chelsea side rising back to the top flight.
And of course our current home, away and third kits are all available to be gifted this Christmas.
