The Chelsea Foundation will this week begin providing exercise packs and education workbooks to schools in support of Mental Health Awareness Week.
In total 500 exercise packs, containing items such as footballs, cones and skipping ropes to help youngsters stay active, will be delivered to schools that remain open for vulnerable children and those of key workers.
A specially designed ‘Extra Time’ workbook will also form part of the giveaway, helping participants keep a healthy mind, and healthy body, during the current coronavirus pandemic.
The initiative forms part of our support for ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’, which runs from May 18 to May 24, with schools encouraged to sign up for a week of activity. The Foundation will be delivering daily sessions to these schools via our successful virtual classroom platform and online coaching sessions.
The activity has been funded in part by Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who said: ‘As a footballer I know how important mental wellbeing is. At Chelsea we believe that a healthy body and a healthy mind are important to overcome any challenge, both on and off the pitch.
‘We have created this workbook and our exercise packs to highlight the importance of mental and physical health and hope that you enjoy the challenges and activities we have created.
‘I am very proud to be the captain of Chelsea and in this role it is important for me to stay physically strong and train everyday so that I can be the best that I can be. Equally, it is important for me to be mentally strong. I need to be determined and resilient for my team and for myself.
‘I hope that you enjoy all of the challenges in this workbook and enjoy learning about the importance of exercise and positive mental health!’
The activity is part of our wider commitment to mental health during the current coronavirus pandemic and throughout the week we will have a different focus on each day, all linked to the five ways to wellbeing: keep learning, take notice, give, be active and connect.
The workbook and exercise packs have been created to highlight the importance of mental and physical health as the Foundation continues to support the most vulnerable in our community during the global coronavirus pandemic and beyond.
Foundation head of education Sam Gaskin-Kemp said: ‘We are delighted to be working with schools and the wider community as part of our programming for ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’.
‘The activities and exercise packs that we have created thanks to Cesar’s support will enable us to continue to deliver our support to children and young people, and to focus on the importance of having a healthy body and a healthy mind.’