To mark Black History Month, Chelsea Foundation is launching a campaign, Making History Everyday, which is designed to celebrate Black leaders, trailblazers and pioneers in the Chelsea community throughout the year.
For the next 12 months, Chelsea FC and Chelsea Foundation will profile Black gamechangers by highlighting influential leaders in the community, icons from both our men’s and women’s team, and many more.
In tandem with this celebratory campaign, Chelsea Foundation will be delivering a Making History Everyday workshop in schools and communities across our network.
The workshop will celebrate the journeys, skills and successes of those considered to be history makers.
To launch the campaign, we are featuring some of Chelsea’s most prominent Black players across our men’s and women’s teams, with quotes from the players themselves on what celebrating Black excellence all year round means to them.
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah said, 'There are so many black legends on and off the pitch, it’s time to tell our stories. It’s great to see Chelsea Foundation committed to doing so all year round.'
New star of the Women’s team, Mia Fishel, added, 'This project is so exciting. Working in our communities through the Chelsea Foundation will help us all learn more about the Black legends in our Chelsea family.'
To kickstart the initiative, Chelsea Foundation is currently delivering the first Making History Everyday workshops across all departments in October, with over 4000 participants expected to take part including students from more than 30 schools across Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Richmond, and Wandsworth.
Making History Everyday will also be delivered by Chelsea Foundation across Essex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex throughout Black History Month.
As part of the initial workshop, participants will be encouraged to nominate their own ‘history maker’ such as someone within their local community or a well-known figure who is considered to be making history every day.
From this, a select number of participants will be invited to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 31 October for a special Black History Month celebration event hosted by Chelsea Foundation.
Alfie Butwell, senior E&D officer at Chelsea Foundation, said: 'Black History Month provides us with an opportunity to further recognise the contribution made by those of Black origin or heritage towards society today.
'Alongside the club’s No To Hate campaign, it is crucial that we continue to celebrate our history as well as empower, educate and inspire future generations to break down barriers.
'The Making History Everyday workshop will work with a wide variety of participants and we look forward to celebrating their individual history makers.'