Chess in Schools and Communities

What Chess in Schools and Communities does

Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) is a UK-registered charity (No. 1133120) and company limited by guarantee (No. 7017640), founded in late 2009 and headquartered at 44 Baker Street, London. Its core function is the delivery of free chess lessons to UK state schools during curriculum time, using a bespoke 30-week curriculum designed for complete beginners and embedding mathematics content. Beyond the schools programme, CSC operates a diversified portfolio including library chess clubs, prison and Young Offender Institution chess programmes (~40 coaches across 15 prisons), refugee support, and programmes for older people, plus international support in Ukraine and Malawi. Major flagship events include the annual ChessFest in Trafalgar Square (23,300 visitors in 2024), the London Chess Classic at Emirates Stadium (800 children from 60 schools), and the CSC Junior Grand Prix series.

The organisation reaches 3,000+ UK state schools cumulatively and approximately 25,500 children annually, with 94% of school staff reporting cognitive-skill improvements. CSC is an Approved Activity Provider for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Skills Section (since January 2025) and has established its first Centre of Excellence at Whitefield Primary School in Liverpool (June 2025) to train new tutors. The charity partners with EBRD, Google DeepMind (at UCL Academy), XTX Markets (title sponsor of the London Chess Classic), and corporate volunteer programmes at Bank of England, JP Morgan, Barclays, and Amazon.

CSC operates on a donation-funded model: services are free for state schools, libraries, and prisons, with income derived from corporate sponsorships, trusts and foundations, individual donors, and fundraising events. It employs 51-100 staff including regional coordinators and a tutor network drawn from university students, experienced chess teachers, and volunteers. There is no proprietary technology platform — CSC uses a web-based information system for curriculum delivery and event registration, integrates Stripe and GoCardless for donations, and recommends ChessKid and Lichess for at-home practice.

Name

Chess in Schools and Communities

Legal name

Chess in Schools and Communities

Website

https://chessinschools.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Chess in Schools and Communities is a UK charity that delivers free chess lessons, clubs, tournaments, and tutor training to state schools, libraries, prisons, and community groups, reaching 3,000+ schools and 25,500 children annually via donation-funded programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Chess Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Chess education
• School chess programs
• Community chess
• Tutor training
• Prison rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: CSC operates as a registered charity (number 1133120) funded by corporate sponsors, trusts, foundations, and individual donors. Major events like the London Chess Classic serve as fundraising opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) is a registered UK charity that delivers free chess lessons, equipment, and tutor training to state primary and secondary schools using a bespoke 30-week curriculum. Beyond schools, CSC runs community chess programs in libraries, prisons, and with refugees and older people, and organises the ChessFest mass-participation event in Trafalgar Square, the London Chess Classic elite tournament, and the CSC Junior Grand Prix series.

Product overview

Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) is a charity organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of chess education products and services. The core offering includes weekly chess lessons in UK state schools using a bespoke 30-week curriculum, supported by after-school clubs and chess equipment provision. CSC organizes regional and national chess tournaments including the flagship ChessFest (Trafalgar Square), London Chess Classic (Emirates Stadium), and CSC Junior Grand Prix series. Additional services include tutor training programmes, free online webinars for children, prison chess programmes, library chess clubs, and community initiatives for refugees and older people. The organization also supports international projects including chess lessons in Ukraine and Malawi. CSC has reached over 3,000 UK schools and impacts approximately 25,500 children annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schools' Chess Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of school staff believe CSC chess lessons have improved pupils' cognitive skills
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 June 2026EBRD hosts CSC school tournaments at their Canary Wharf headquarters. The bank has developed keen interest in chess, hosting CSC's Solidarity Match between UK and Ukraine in 2022, and running several events for children from Tower Hamlets schools.
• Walthamstow Chess ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Partnership to organize the Waltham Forest and Haringey Schools Chess Tournament. Over 150 children from 15 local schools participated in inaugural event.
• She Plays to WinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Partnership to encourage more girls to play chess. Joint tournaments organized including girls' chess tournament in Liverpool at Holly Lodge Girls' College, open to players of all standards.
• Duke of Edinburgh AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2025CSC is an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for the Skills Section of the DofE Award scheme. CSC sends tutors into secondary schools to run 3-month chess programmes for students working towards Bronze and Silver awards.
• ECF Grassroots SchememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial support for Walthamstow Schools Chess Tournament from English Chess Federation Grassroots Scheme.
• Bank of EnglandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of England employees volunteer at CSC chess events as part of employee volunteering schemes.
• JP MorganminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJP Morgan employees volunteer at CSC chess events as part of corporate employee volunteering programs.
• Barclays BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBarclays employees volunteer at CSC chess events as part of corporate volunteering schemes.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon employees volunteer at CSC chess events as part of employee volunteering programs.
• Enfield Town Schools PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFantastic charity supporting 19 schools across Enfield borough. Partnership for school chess tournaments.
• Sheffield Hallam UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSC partnered with Sheffield Hallam University research on chess and mathematics education.
• HMP/YOI IsiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrison where CSC runs chess club that won gold medal in Continental Chess Championships for Prisoners.
• Google DeepMindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSC working with Google DeepMind on unique programme with UCL Academy, a non-selective state secondary school in north London.
• UCL AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-selective state secondary school in north London partnered with Google DeepMind and CSC for Chess Pioneers program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FIDE: International Chess Federation, the global governing body that oversees chess worldwide including education initiatives like Chess in Education programs. Broad incumbent operating across the same overarching chess-promotion space.
• Chess.com: World's largest online chess platform and owner of ChessKid, which CSC explicitly recommends as a home-learning resource. Broad incumbent in chess education globally, with overlapping target audience of school-age children and parents.

Emerging players

• Lichess: Free, open-source online chess platform promoted by CSC as a home-learning resource. Provides free puzzles, lessons, and play that overlaps with CSC's educational mission at zero cost to the end user.
• Mind Sports Olympiad: UK- and global-based organization promoting mind sports including chess through competitions and educational programs. Partial overlap with CSC's tournament and youth-engagement activities.

Direct peers

• English Chess Federation: The national governing body for chess in England, organizing competitive events, supporting grassroots chess, and providing funding schemes that CSC's Walthamstow tournament explicitly receives. Direct peer in UK chess-education promotion.
• UK Chess Trust: UK charity dedicated to promoting chess, particularly in educational settings. Directly comparable mission and operating model to CSC as a non-profit focused on expanding chess access in British schools and communities.

Regional players

• America's Foundation for Chess: US non-profit promoting chess in schools through curriculum development and teacher training. Regional peer with directly comparable mission (chess in schools) operating in a different geography (United States).
• Saint Louis Chess Club: Major US chess organization running world-class tournaments, educational programs for youth, and outreach initiatives including Chess Club and Scholastic Center programs. Comparable in scale and mission but US-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/schoolschess

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chess in Schools and Communities