Through the Journalism Bursary Programme, Chelsea Foundation provides funding for NCTJ course fees with News Associates, alongside support for living expenses, mentoring, development opportunities and access to unique experiences across the Chelsea family. Now entering its fifth year, the programme continues to break down barriers and open doors for the next generation of diverse sporting voices.

Last year’s bursary recipients, Lauren Harte and Jasmine Wissart, have each taken significant steps on their journey into the media industry, building confidence, developing their skills and gaining invaluable first-hand experience along the way. Reflecting on her time on the programme, Lauren shared:

‘I'm incredibly grateful to have been selected for the Chelsea Foundation x BCOMS annual journalist bursary. Studying at News Associates and completing my NCTJ there was an amazing experience, and I’m proud to have achieved a gold standard qualification. Since completing my studies, I was recently honoured to be shortlisted for a Future Presenter Award.

‘It was fantastic to film a sit-down interview at Chelsea earlier this month, speaking with Andrey Santos about his football journey, life at Chelsea, and representing Brazil. I look forward to building on my experience on the bursary with Chelsea as I take the next steps in my career.’

The opportunity to interview our midfielder Santos was a standout moment for both Lauren and Jasmine, an experience that brought their learning to life and offered a glimpse into the realities of working in elite sport.

Since completing their NCTJ qualifications, they are now exploring opportunities within the media landscape, continuing to build on the strong foundations the programme has provided. Their journeys reflect the wider impact of the bursary, which has already supported a number of young people into roles across the sports media industry.

Building on this success, this year’s cohort, Ifiok Awak-Essien and Tahmina Rahman, have already begun their journey with the programme. As part of their early experiences, they attended our 7–0 victory over Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-final, offering them a first-hand insight into matchday media. Throughout the year, Chelsea Foundation will support Ifiok and Tahmina with industry exposure and development opportunities as they take their first steps into the world of sport.

Leon Mann MBE, founder of BCOMS, highlighted the importance of the partnership.

‘This partnership is genuinely helping to diversify the sports industry and support talent with the potential to make a real impact,’ he said.

‘As the programme reaches its fifth year, we’re incredibly proud of what this collaboration with Chelsea Foundation has achieved. It’s created real, tangible pathways into the industry and continues to grow year on year, supporting young people who may not otherwise have had access to these opportunities.’

The partnership between Chelsea Foundation and BCOMS has had significant impact since its inception. Together, we remain committed to championing inclusion, amplifying diverse voices and supporting young people.