Chelsea Football Club today (Friday) announced that Help a London Child will be our new exclusive charity partner in the United Kingdom.

The three-year partnership with the charity set-up by the radio station 95.8 Capital FM will kick off at the beginning of next season (2009/10) and hopes to raise significant funds by engaging players, supporters and staff, as well as helping raise awareness for the charity.

Help a London Child awards grants to projects supporting disadvantaged children and young people across the capital.

The partnership not only reflects Chelsea's commitment to our local area but also to improving the lives of children experiencing abuse, poverty, homelessness, disability and illness throughout London.

Help a London Child replaces CLIC Sargent as the club's UK Charity Partner after a four-year relationship.

Chelsea raised more than £2 million for the children's cancer charity during that time and helped raise its profile so it is now one of the most recognised charities in the country.

Chelsea captain John Terry said: 'We are in a fortunate position to be able to help good causes and the whole team is looking forward to supporting Help a London Child and the excellent work it does with children.

'The work we did with CLIC Sargent was very close to our hearts and we had a fantastic relationship with them over four years. It was always very humbling when the children and families affected by cancer visited us at the training ground or at Stamford Bridge.

'Now we hope to do the same and have similar experiences with Help a London Child.'

95.8 Capital FM Breakfast Show host Johnny Vaughan said: 'As a supporter of both Chelsea and Help a London Child, to me this is an ideal partnership - the two best teams in London are joining forces to help London's children.'

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon added: 'We are delighted that Help a London Child is our new partner. Our objective is to raise awareness and fund more projects for the charity. This means Chelsea will have a direct and increased impact on the lives of disadvantaged children in our local community and across all of London.

'As a club which is identified so closely with London, the partnership was an obvious one especially given Capital's position also within our great city. Together we are certain we can make a real difference to the lives of many children.'

Help a London Child (registered charity number 1091657), was launched in 1975 by Lord Attenborough CBE, the Life President of Chelsea.

Over the last 34 years, the charity has raised in excess of £20,000,000 and awarded more than 10,000 grants to small groups and charities, working with London's less advantaged and most vulnerable children and young people.

For further information on the charity please click here.

Chelsea has one of the most wide-ranging Corporate Social Responsibility programmes in football that sees it invest more than 2 per cent of our turnover annually (nearly £4.5 million) in community, charity, social inclusion and environmental schemes.

Chelsea also has a Global Charity Partner in Right To Play, the humanitarian organisation that promotes health, education and peace through sport, for more information click here.

For more information on Chelsea's CSR click here.