£10m and counting: investing in communities

By Burnley FC in the Community

04 Dec 2018

player-appearance-whitehough-122-of-223.jpg
As the mid-point of the season approaches, we take a look at how Burnley FC’s globally-recognised charity – Burnley FC in the Community – is impacting the lives of thousands of people in our community every day.

Three staff members. One office. A million ideas.

From the start, embedding the club’s community ethos into the operations of BFCitC was key. The partnership between club, charity and the town had to be an authentic one and so club directors Barry Kilby and Brian Nelson became Trustees, with Brian Nelson appointed as the Chair of Trustees in the summer of 2015.

Players are great supporters of the Community projects, with Chris Wood and Jack Cork (top) attending the opening of the Whitehough Outdoor Centre

With the guarantee of a suitable working environment for the rapidly growing charity to deliver its crucial work, the decision also ensured close joint-working with club staff.

The club’s Premier League status in recent seasons has allowed Burnley FC in the Community to access in the region of £3.5m of this from the Premier League, via the bank of funds it has set aside to support non-profit work being delivered on behalf of clubs across the country.

So where has this money been invested?

The Community Kitchen was officially opened in Burnley town centre in November

Based on a model of identifying a social issue specific to the local area and offering a viable solution to combat it, the charity’s broad portfolio of projects now tackle, as a snapshot; chronic loneliness, unemployment, mental health issues, poor academic attainment, anti-social behaviour, youth crime and physical and health inequalities.

The 100-strong team of local staff – made up of sport coaches, teachers, mentors, employability advisors, project managers, youth workers, health practitioners, marketeers, financiers and administrators – deliver their work in 88 primary, secondary and special needs schools and colleges, in community centres, at the Turf Moor stadium and at the portfolio of facilities the charity now operates.

The Turf Sleepout raised funds for local charities

Over the course of the last 12 months alone, via Burnley FC in the Community, almost £50k in funds has also been distributed by the club to other local charities and smaller non-profit groups in the town including Pendleside Hospice, Jane’s Place, Emmaus Burnley and the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal.

What’s next?

The exciting new development has received a collective investment of around £4.5m to date, with circa £1m of this funding secured from the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund.

BFCitC was named as Community Club of the Year for the fourth year in a row at the 2018 Northwest Football Awards

In January 2019, the Schools’ Mental Wellbeing Project will launch. Seven full-time mental health workers will be posted in schools across Burnley and Pendle to offer sustained support to young people across the region. For this project, there is a collective investment of over £600,000 over the next three years – with £250k grant funding coming into the charity via the Premier League and PFA Community Fund.

Finally, a word from Burnley FC and Burnley FC in the Community

“The entire team have the 100% support of myself, the board, the manager, the players and all club staff and I extend my thanks to BFCitC’s Chair of Trustees, Brian Nelson and Neil Hart – who leads the charity on a day-to-day basis – for the hard work being delivered every day from Turf Moor. Long may the excellent work continue.”

“It’s been quite a journey so far and, without doubt, the support of our many partners and the stand-out staff we have had over the past five years has been the catalyst in propelling us to where we are today.” For a comprehensive understanding of BFCitC’s work, you can read project and activity information in detail via the charity’s bumper 2018 Impact Report here.

Latest news

1

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

2

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day Dave Walker with Richard Slater at Lancashire Business Day

First speakers confirmed for Lancashire Business Day

08 Oct 2025

3

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors Craig Hemmings

Hemmings steps down as PNE chairman as hunt begins for new investors

08 Oct 2025

4

Chamber calls for three council county Lancashire County Council County Hall

Chamber calls for three council county

08 Oct 2025

5

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance Victorian Plumbing Leyland

Victorian Plumbing reports strong financial performance

07 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin