Chelsea Stars, Central Cee and Suggs Ask Fans to Wrap Up Warm This Christmas
Chelsea Football Club and Chelsea Foundation are working with charities tackling homelessness across London to support the coldest this Christmas, as part of its ‘Wrap Up Warm’ campaign. Launched today via a heart-warming video shot at the Blues’ Stamford Bridge home featuring an all-star cast, the initiative will see the club appeal to its fanbase and local residents to donate warm clothing which will then be distributed to those in need across the south-west London community in the build-up to Christmas.
Often viewed as the ‘most wonderful time of the year’, the festive period for many is the most difficult. Nearly 12,000 people were sleeping rough in London last year, including more than 3,200 people in south-west London alone; all numbers which are expected to increase this year.
Clothing donations are a part-solution to a long-term problem. Therefore, Chelsea Foundation is also partnering with GoFundMe, and calling for donations which will then be granted to charities in London tackling homelessness and its roots causes all-year round.
Together, the Chelsea family will have the opportunity to get involved and play their part with the campaign. Much needed items of warm clothing can be donated at the designated drop-off point at upcoming matches.
The club will be making a donation from the proceeds from its festive retail range to Chelsea Foundation, which will be redistributed to charities working to support homelessness and its root causes in London. In addition, the men’s and women’s teams will be making a contribution with funds to support those that need it most, such as Barons Court Project.
Barons Court Project is a charity based close to Stamford Bridge, and the only day centre in Hammersmith and Fulham supporting people experiencing homelessness. The charity is close to hearts of Chelsea supporters, especially as the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust has worked with Barons Court Project for a number of years with various initiatives and campaigns, such as its annual sleepout which sees members spend the night at Stamford Bridge to raise funds for the charity.
At the centre of the campaign is a festive film featuring the Chelsea family, brought together in a way no one has seen before. Directed by Peter Franklyn Banks and KODE as production studio, the film features the stars and supporting cast which reflect the diversity of what makes our club so strong, with players from the men’s and women’s squads, Blues legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, global star and Chelsea fan Central Cee alongside longstanding Madness lead singer and true Blue Suggs, all wrapped up and styled in our warmest seasonal wear as a young fan finds himself transported to the centre of a club Christmas photoshoot where he meets his hero, Cole Palmer.
Our young fan shares warm encounters with members of the Chelsea family including Sam Kerr and Christopher Nkunku, before making his way onto the snowy terraces of Stamford Bridge. A coat gets draped over his shoulders, and as he looks up to see who has given it to him it is none other than Cole Palmer himself. The campaign is a call to arms to wrap up warm with Chelsea this Christmas, one where we will be leaving the cold to Cole and turning his cold celebration into a symbol of warmth and giving.
Laura Cordingley, chief executive officer of Chelsea Foundation said, “With over 3,000 people sleeping rough in our local community alone, we have an important role to play in supporting individuals and families affected by homelessness and its root causes during the festive period and beyond.
“To help tackle this, we will be working with the club, supporters and local organisations to donate warm clothing to those who need it most this Christmas, whilst also raising funds that will support charities tackling homelessness and its root causes in London longer term.
“We would ask those who can, to donate warm clothing at the highlighted drop-off point in the coming weeks, or to make a donation via the GoFundMe link. Together, we can make a huge difference.”
The extensive retail range will be on sale through the club’s Megastore at Stamford Bridge and its official online store, with festive-inspired knitted products and gifting options available along with lifestyle, a first-ever Nike Premium range, the latest edition of the Nike women’s Fall collection and a Blue Out retro-inspired range focused on the fan favourite 1962-63 home shirt. And of course, the club’s current home, away and third kits are all available to be gifted this Christmas.
Fans can donate to the GoFundMe campaign here, with items of warm clothing welcomed at the donation point as listed below.
The festive campaign video can be viewed across the club’s social media channels along with its website, and the full retail range is available now in-store and online here.
The ‘Wrap Up Warm’ campaign will culminate at the club’s Boxing Day fixture against Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge.
