As part of the partnership, Chelsea Foundation will have a full-time officer based at the school to develop the new programme, working closely with the St Dunstan’s team and reaching out and building relationships across Lewisham.

Daniel Jacquart, head of football development at Chelsea Foundation, said: ‘We are thrilled to be working with St Dunstan’s College offering bespoke football opportunities for pupils and the local community. Chelsea Foundation’s highly qualified and experienced coaching will enable players of all levels to develop and enhance their footballing ability and skills within a first-class environment.’

The partnership will see a calendar of events take place across the year including experiences not just for schools but for the wider community. The Foundation will also support St Dunstan’s with Lewisham sporting events, coaching sessions, and supporting state schools with sports days. It will also deliver coaching for St Dunstan’s pupils Monday to Thursday, and facilitate students visiting our training ground in Cobham. 

The full-time officer will also work closely with St Dunstan’s to build relationships with local stakeholders to identify further partnership and community opportunities. 

St Dunstan’s head, Nick Hewlett, said: ‘We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Chelsea FC Foundation. Sport at St Dunstan’s has been on an incredible journey in recent years, and this is the next exciting chapter in our history.

‘We are passionate about our local community, and I am particularly pleased that this new partnership will not only benefit our pupils, but young people across the whole borough. It really does have the potential to transform football across south-east London.’