With the Wrap Up Warm campaign reaching its final week in the build-up to Christmas, Chelsea players extended their personal involvement with a visit to one of the charity projects at the heart of the initiative.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Marcus Bettinelli and Levi Colwill represented the squad at the Barons Court Project, the only day centre supporting people experiencing homelessness in Hammersmith & Fulham, the London borough which also houses Stamford Bridge.
Wrap Up Warm is two-fold in the way Chelsea Football Club, Chelsea Foundation and the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust are working together with charities tackling homelessness in our community. There is a fund open for financial donations to help address the root causes of homelessness all year round while, focused specifically on these winter months, we have also been appealing for clothing to help the coldest this winter.
Barons Court Project is one of the beneficiaries of coats, trousers, jumpers, undergarments and many more types of items that have been received at our drop-off points over the past month and the three Blues players were more than happy to assist with the latest delivery, handing over clothing directly to guests who were at the centre on the day.
Michael Angus, director of the Barons Court Project, had welcomed the Chelsea visitors, and was especially intrigued by Bettinelli’s past loan spells at his own hometown club of Accrington Stanley. On a more serious note, he spoke about the continuing yearly rise in homelessness, about homelessness being a state of someone not having a place where they can be themselves, and about how Barons Court Project is a home for people who otherwise do not have one.
He gave our players a tour of all the floors of the centre and the services on offer which range from showers and a laundry to body-and-mind services and an art room. There they meet Guan Chow, one of the stars of our Wrap Up Warm launch video, who showcased his art-based social enterprise there.
‘We were really interested in coming down and seeing the work they do here,’ said Bettinelli after the tour.
‘There can be a stigma around these houses being like soup kitchens which might be a bit grotty whereas this isn't the case at all. You get a real sense of pride being taken inside this house and Michael explained extremely well how he wants everyone to feel it's special to be here.
‘It must be amazing for the guests when they arrive to have access to stuff we take for granted every day, like warm-water showers. When people are homeless, there may be a stigma that they've done that to themselves, or they might be addicted to this or that, but everyone has their own story and being homeless can happen to anyone, extremely quickly, especially in today's age with bills and the cost of living.
‘These guys here are doing an amazing job and I'm very grateful to be able to come here.’
Bettinelli, who saw some familiar-looking and very useful goalkeeper tops among the clothing ready to be handed out, has been a resident of Hammersmith and Fulham himself and was already well aware of the contrasting experiences of people in the borough. The players themselves are making a joint donation to the Wrap Up Warm fund being raised.
‘It is something else we take for granted, being lucky enough to have a roof over our heads,’ said Bettinelli. ‘Sadly, so many people don't have that luxury and what Michael and the team are doing here is an amazing thing, and hopefully Chelsea can give them resources they need to help everyone.
‘The players wanted to help with what Michael's doing - with clothes, with the food, whatever that is, especially with it being so close to Stamford Bridge. When we were giving out the clothes, a lot of the guys had Chelsea hats on and were Chelsea fans and even if they are not, we want to help make sure they are taken care of.
‘If any of our fans are able to help with donations, even if it is something small like socks and underpants, they’re very important, or big warm jackets, they’ll be really, really welcome. It'll be amazing to see a lot of fans contributing to this campaign.’
How you can help
The final clothing collection point will open ahead of tomorrow’s Chelsea versus Shamrock Rovers game and will be situated at Stamford Gate behind the security checkpoints. It will be open from 5.30pm until kick-off.
Examples of items that will be welcomed are:
All preferably new or gently used
Warm winter coats
Winter hats
Gloves
Jumpers/hoodies
Trousers
Shoes
New, we cannot take second hand of theseSocks
Men's underwear
Thermal vests/Long johns
Fund remains open for financial contributions
Clothing donations are a part-solution to a long-term societal problem and therefore, Chelsea Foundation is also appealing for financial donations which will be granted to charities in London tackling homelessness and its roots causes all year round. This is a way to take part for those who wish to contribute but will not be at the game…