Chelsea Football Club, through our health and safety team, has partnered with Epilepsy Action to deliver epilepsy first aid training to our staff – with a particular focus on the thousands of employees working in and around Stamford Bridge on matchdays. This is a first for a Premier League club.
Launched at tonight’s Champions League game against Pafos, the project will help raise awareness and increase training to ensure people living with epilepsy are supported. Every day 79 new people are diagnosed with the condition, there are 137 hospital admissions and three people sadly die. Statistically, on average on a matchday at Stamford Bridge there are 400 supporters with epilepsy.
The project began after the health and safety department became aware of staff members living with epilepsy across the business, with the focus of ensuring adequate training and action plans were in place to respond to seizures. This was then extended to support fans on a matchday at the Bridge.
Supporters are invited to attend a pre-match event in the Tea Bar at the stadium tonight between 6pm and 8pm. Information will be shared highlighting the resources and training that are in place to enable staff and stewards to ensure those living with epilepsy feel safe and cared for on a matchday and beyond.
An often-misunderstood health challenge, 87 per cent of people with epilepsy have a mental health condition, with those living in London’s most deprived areas three times more likely to die. The activity is borne out of research that highlights 68 per cent of people would be afraid to witness someone having a seizure.
Tracy Brown, a Chelsea supporter living with epilepsy, said: ‘Living with epilepsy means living with uncertainty. I don’t get warnings before my seizures, they can happen without notice, which makes everyday life, including matchdays, far more complex. On matchdays, I have to manage that reality alongside noise, lights, fatigue, excitement and large crowds, all while knowing that a seizure could happen at any time, without warning.
‘That constant awareness takes a physical and emotional toll. It’s not just about enjoying the football; it’s about staying safe in an environment that isn’t always designed with people like me in mind. Having Chelsea FC staff trained in epilepsy first aid is genuinely transformative. It means safety, understanding and dignity, not panic or fear if something were to happen.’
Simon Privett, training and education lead for Epilepsy Action, said: ‘Epilepsy is more common than many people realise, and knowing what to do in an emergency can make all the difference. Chelsea’s proactive approach shows real leadership – not just in sport but in championing a culture of understanding and safety that other clubs can follow.’
A continuation of the club’s ambition to ensure our grounds welcome and support all fans, the training follows the news at the start of the season that all games at both Stamford Bridge and Kingsmeadow would feature on-screen British Sign Language interpretation for all domestic and European fixtures thanks to club partner Cadbury.
Epilepsy Action was founded 75 years ago with a vision to improve the lives of people affected by epilepsy, offering support, trusted information and professional training to ensure no one faces epilepsy alone.