Chelsea Football Club hosted an end of term celebration event in partnership with the borough's Playing for Success projects based at Chelsea, Fulham and QPR football clubs.

Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini and former Chelsea defender turned football pundit Graeme Le Saux were there to meet the pupils and to award certificates and prizes for their hard work.

The joint Playing for Success project gave children the opportunity to take part in educational activities at each of the Playing for Success centres at Stamford Bridge, Craven Cottage and Loftus Road. During the ten-week programme, each centre focused on a curriculum area - Chelsea focused on literacy, Fulham on ICT skills and QPR on numeracy.

Fifty participating children from local primary schools and their parents were then invited to Chelsea FC to celebrate their achievements.

Rebekah Orr, PFS manager at Chelsea FC, said, "The joint Playing for Success project has given the children a unique opportunity to benefit from the fantastic facilities and expertise at each of the Playing for Success centres at the three football clubs in Hammersmith & Fulham."

The pupils from St Augustine's, Avonmore and Kenmont primary schools were very pleased to have the opportunity to take part and to meet the three football clubs' mascots - Chelsea FC's Stamford the Lion, Fulham FC's Billy the Badger, and QPR's Jude the Cat who were there to join in the fun. Guests also included Chelsea FC
directors, Alan Shaw and Simon Greenberg, and H&F Council's cabinet member for childrens services, Cllr Antony Lillis.

Cllr Lillis said, "Hundreds of local children have improved their learning ability and confidence by attending the Playing for Success study centres at Chelsea FC, Fulham FC and QPR FC. These are fantastic partnerships between the football clubs and the council and the clubs have shown tremendous commitment to developing
exciting programmes at the centres."

Playing for Success is an out of school hours study support programme, which is supported by the DfES and local authorities, as well as football clubs and other sports grounds nationwide. The initiative uses sport to inspire and motivate local pupils. Projects focus on increasing pupils' confidence and enjoyment of learning as well as raising literacy, numeracy and ICT skills. The centres are fun and colourful and equipped with state-of-the-art classroom technology.