FICO & Chelsea Foundation launch teen money programme

FICO and Chelsea Foundation have launched a financial literacy programme for teenagers in the UK, marking FICO's first financial education initiative in the country.

The organisations held the first of three planned sessions at Stamford Bridge, where 175 students took part in a workshop based on running a professional football club on a budget.

Working in teams, students tackled balance sheets and spending decisions covering operational costs, player salaries and other expenses. FICO staff supported the groups before each team presented its financial strategy to a judging panel.

Judges assessed the students on financial decision-making, teamwork and communication, selecting top teams from each school. The day ended with a stadium tour and a meeting with former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The programme uses football to introduce money management concepts to younger audiences and extends FICO's existing relationship with Chelsea FC into community education.

Community focus

The partnership aims to give young people practical skills through a familiar cultural reference point. Chelsea Foundation runs wellbeing, community and futures projects tied to the football club's local footprint.

"We are delighted to partner with FICO to provide young people with valuable financial education in such an engaging and memorable way. At Chelsea Foundation, we are committed to creating opportunities that help young people develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive both now and in the future. Combining football with practical financial learning helps students to build a stronger understanding of money management, teamwork, and decision-making. We look forward to continuing our work with FICO and seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on young people across our communities," said Mariel Zelhart, Head of Philanthropic Partnerships, Chelsea Foundation.

Financial literacy programmes for teenagers have drawn increasing attention from companies, charities and schools as concerns persist over low levels of financial understanding among younger people. Basic topics such as budgeting, credit, debt and saving are often taught unevenly, leaving outside groups to fill part of the gap.

For FICO, the UK effort is part of a broader consumer education push that has focused on helping people understand credit and personal finance. The company is best known for its analytics software and for the FICO Score used by many lenders in the United States.

Broader effort

The Chelsea Foundation programme is intended to broaden access to financial education through a format designed to keep students engaged. By placing budgeting decisions within a football management exercise, the workshop aimed to make abstract concepts more tangible.

Rukiya Kelly, Global Head of Corporate Impact at FICO, described the initiative as part of a wider effort to address gaps in access to basic financial education.

"Financial literacy is one of the most powerful tools we can give young people, yet millions of youths around the world still lack access to basic financial education," said Rukiya Kelly, Global Head of Corporate Impact, FICO.

"We take great pride in partnering with an organization as impactful as Chelsea Foundation. Together, we are broadening access to personal finance education, closing the knowledge gap, and empowering the next generation to build stronger financial futures," Kelly added.

Founded in 1956, FICO provides analytics and decision software across sectors including financial services, insurance, telecommunications, healthcare and retail. Chelsea Foundation, established in 2010, runs charitable and community programmes linked to Chelsea FC and supports projects aimed at healthier lives and improved opportunities.

The UK schools programme brings those two strands together through sport, budgeting and team-based problem-solving, with two further sessions planned as part of the initial rollout.

At the first event, students weighed salaries, operating costs and other spending choices before defending their decisions in front of judges.