Always on
This project successfully funded on 24th July 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
London Women Chess Club
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim
We aim to grow a safe, inspiring chess in ommunity for all women and girls and inclus in London through coaching, tournan ments, and club ev
As a female chess player, I started the London Women Chess Club because I saw how few women were represented in competitive chess - and how many felt isolated or intimidated by traditional clubs. I wanted to create something different: a space inclusive of all women and girls could learn the game at their own pace, grow in confidence, and build lasting friendships.
We began with a few regulars, some boards, and the kindness of local venues who believed in our mission. Now, we have over 100 members on our WhatsApp group and continue to welcome new joiners every week, many inspired by Beth Harmon from The Queen's Gambit show! We meet for social chess games and informal peer coaching every Saturday afternoon, 2-6pm at Old Diorama Arts Centre.
We've hosted FIDE-rated tournaments, community events, club matches, and beginner-friendly coaching sessions. What makes our club special isn’t just the chess. It’s the atmosphere of encouragement, respect, and community.
Our members range from absolute beginners to competitive players, from teenagers to grandmothers. Many of them had never played in a tournament before joining us. Some are now entering national leagues and rating lists. That transformation, quiet confidence built move by move, is what this club is all about.
But to keep going, we need support. Venue hire, equipment, coaching, outreach, it all adds up. Your donation helps us continue creating a safe and empowering chess environment for women and girls in London. If you believe in equal access to opportunity, in community over (or alongside!) competition, and in the power of chess to change lives, please support us.
We are a registered Community Interest Company, a not-for-profit organisation. We are volunteer-led, so all donations will go towards running the club.
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Some things our members have said about London Women Chess Club:
👩🏾🦱"It was such an inclusive, supportive, engaging and most of all fun session for a newbie."
👱🏼♀️"Just wanted to say thanks so much for welcoming me for the first time on Saturday. I had a great time and will be back! Probably next Saturday… 🙂"
👩👦"I have only started trying to play in the last few months, and I am loving it, even a bit obsessed, and think it is good for my ageing brain. It would be so nice if a few more of us [mums] were playing. After spending a lot of time sitting at tournaments with my son, whiling away the hours, I was tempted to give it a go."
👩🏽🦰"Thank you so much for allowing me to play tonight! 🥰First time playing a standard official game. The kid even had to show me how to use the clock, haha! I was thrown off a bit in the beginning, annotating/moving/clock pushing, but then I got into its rhythm. There is no feeling like it, being lost in deep thought during a chess game!"
👧🏽"This group is amazing! You're doing a fantastic job of empowering and encouraging girls and women. Thanks for your support, LWCC organisers 🙏"
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made