Our Ambassadors
Rachel Reeves MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is a former British Girls U14 Chess Champion. She is passionate about the game and its real life applications.
“I first learnt play chess at 7 in school, I loved the challenge it gave me. I can remember one instance when I was playing a boy at school and his friend approached the board and sneeringly remarked- oh your playing a girl you should win- It incensed me and so of course I had to go on to beat him, which I did!
Chess taught me how to plan ahead, anticipate my opponents moves and think strategically. Skills I have gone on to use in my political life.”
Demis Hassabis, CBE, CEO and Co-Founder Google DeepMind, a leading artificial intelligence company. Demis is known for his pioneering work in the field of neuroscience-inspired AI. He is also an extremely strong chess player who achieved the level of master aged 13 and captained England’s Junior Chess teams.
“As a young chess player I learnt how to solve problems, how to make plans and devise strategies, how to deal with the intense pressure of competition, and how to imagine and visualise possible futures. Playing the game seriously at such a young age was an extremely formative experience and the transferable skills I honed through chess have continued to influence and inform all aspects of my life. That’s why I’m always very encouraging of children being taught chess as part of the school curriculum, and particularly proud to support the work of Chess in Schools and Communities.”
Our sponsors
The work of Chess in Schools and Communities would not be possible without the diverse charitable support we have received over the years. Learn more about what your help can do.
Our major sponsors include:
XTX Markets is a leading algorithmic trading firm which seeks to automate all aspects of their business. XTX Markets' mission is to be the leading financial technology firm for fair and efficient markets. The firm partners with institutional clients, counterparties and trading venues globally to deliver liquidity in the Equity, FX, Fixed Income, and Commodity markets.
Mathematics Education for Social Mobility and Excellence (MESME) exists to support students from all backgrounds to achieve mathematical excellence, so that they go on to have a greater and richer range of future personal, employment and economic choices.
John Lyon's Charity has given over £100 million in support of education initiatives across north-west London since 1991. CSC is delighted to be working on a 3-year project to expand our activities in this part of the capital with the support of John Lyon's Charity. This follows previous projects in Barnet and across seven boroughs in 2016-2017, the latter benefitting 19 schools.
Google DeepMind, the company behind the groundbreaking Alpha self-teaching AI, is supporting Chess in Schools and Communities in a pioneering project with UCL Academy in Camden, and hosted the first round of our flagship London Chess Classic in 2017.
The ORP Foundation is a UK charitable trust set up in 2011 by first and second-generation descendants of refugees. CSC is very grateful for the support the Foundation is providing to help expand the charity's activities in Hull, Somerset, and London.
The Kusuma Trust gives grants to causes, organisations and people that are making a positive difference to society. They choose partners based on their shared values and mutual interests – creating access to opportunities, improving health and well-being, and investing in our communities and environment.
The Angus Lawson Memorial Trust (ALMT) is a registered children's charitable trust striving to mitigate the suffering of the world's most marginalised children.The ALMT was founded to create a lasting legacy for Angus Lawson who, despite no longer being with us, continues to impact children's lives across the World. The ALMT provide targeted grants and support to organisations working towards its shared mission.
The 'Every Child a Chess Player' partnership between Chess in Schools and Communities and the London Borough of Newham was launched in March 2013, aiming to give every child in the Borough the opportunity to benefit from chess. The partnership has been growing ever since, and we now teach chess in 18 schools.
The Lohia Foundation is a charitable trust which was founded by Mr. Mohan Lal Lohia. Mr. M.L. Lohia, a citizen of India, spent most of his professional life outside of India and established textile business in South East Asia under the trademark of Indorama. The Lohia Foundation focuses on education and healthcare related initiatives.
The Sheriffs' and Recorder's Fund. Founded in 1808, the Fund gives small grants to ex-prisoners and their families in London, to help them stop offending and start a new life. CSC is delighted to be working on a project in our Prisons' Programme with the support of the Sheriffs' and Recorder's Fund.
We would also like to express our gratitude to:
The Vincit Foundation
Dr Edwards and Bishop King’s Charity
Delancey
The Alan & Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund
The Lancashire Foundation
The Transform Foundation
United Way Worldwide
The Ford Britain Trust
East Village London E20
The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust
The Elizabeth Rathbone Charitable Trust
Bristol City Council
The Grantham Yorke Trust
The Edgar E Lawley Charitable Foundation
The Daisy Trust
Help a Capital Child
Investec
The Big Lottery Fund
Vodafone
The Summerfield Charitable Trust
The Wakeham Trust
Dr. Edwards and Bishop King's Fulham Charity
Winton Philanthropies
The David Wood Memorial Trust
The Mercers' Company
Hammersmith United Charities
EFG Private Bank
The Red Hill Trust
The Michael John Norwood Memorial Trust
The British Chess Educational Trust
The Tony and Anusha Stewart Foundation
Barclaycard
The Education Endowment Foundation
The Walter Guinness Charitable Trust