Carter, Leupolz, Telford and Blundell all came together to share their experiences and provide an insight into the women who have inspired them throughout their careers.

Blues defender Carter took part in a Q&A session with female participants on our Kicks programme, where she spoke about her pathway into football, her career at Chelsea and also women who have inspired her.

Leupolz joined 120 participants at a virtual ‘Inspire to Empower’ event aimed at celebrating successful female leaders.

Pupils from eight different schools, aged 10 to 16 years old, were given the opportunity to hear about the midfielder’s route into football, honours she has won for both club and country and female role models who have inspired her.

Telford shared an insight into her career during a webinar for participants on the Chelsea FC Foundation Degree programme in collaboration with St Mary’s University, aiming to inspire students who have ambitions of working in the women’s game.

The goalkeeper was also joined by eight guest speakers from across women’s sport, including Great Britain and Wales hockey player Leah Wilkinson and Welsh 400m athlete Rhiannon Linington-Payne.

Blundell, who has been at the club since the age of 16, was also involved in our International Women’s Day celebrations.

The defender answered questions from members of our Chelsea Foundation Women’s Walking Football team, discussing what challenges she has faced and how she has overcome them, while also touching on the growth of women’s football in England.

Head of education Sam Gaskin-Kemp said: ‘International Women’s Day is an opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate the achievements of inspiring women, both in society and across women’s sport.

‘We were delighted to have Chelsea FC Women’s players join us at numerous Foundation events. They are role models for so many, and it was great to have them engaging with participants on our programmes.

‘Participants who took part in the events were given the opportunity to hear from the players, and learn who they have looked up to throughout their careers, and I’m sure they will have been inspired having heard from the players first-hand.’

The Foundation activity with the Chelsea Women players forms part of the clubs wider International Women’s Day campaign which is being celebrated across two weeks on the club's channels.