Burnley FC first team and U18s squad visited Food Bank

Burnley FC first team and U18s squad visited Food Bank

Within one week, players from the first men’s and women’s team as well as the u18 men’s squad visited the Foodbank at Burnley FC in the Community Kitchen.

First-team pair Josh Brownhill and Nathan Collins were joined by Women’s team defender Olivia Wilson to pack parcels. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, BFCitC, in partnership with Burnley Together, are providing a next-day delivery service to those who need it the most around Burnley, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire.

So far in 2021, 6,665 parcels have been distributed which has provided meals for over 16,000 people, 5,913 of which were children. BFCitC Foodbank continues to make an impact, and in total, 21, 973 residents have been fed – more than Turf Moor’s ground capacity.

Brownhill, Collins, and Wilson were given a tour around the facility by Sean Danaher, Community Kitchen and Foodbank Manager, and Nathan Norris, Community Kitchen Assistant Manager, before taking part in packing food parcel items ready for delivery. Olivia also kindly donated 11 hand-made Christmas hampers crammed full of essential food items and festive treats.

“We’ve come down to the Foodbank to see what it is about, they’ve done a really good job here, there’s a lot of hard work and they are very good. […] It’s a very important cause and they’ve done a really good job. It’s not just them, and they support other Foodbanks and for me and Nathan to see it in person, and how much of a good job they do, it’s amazing. […] It goes on all year, there are no rest days for the Foodbank, and they do an amazing job, and coming up to Christmas, it’s probably going to be more hectic but speaking to them, they are fully prepared, and it goes for the help as well, so get down to the ground and give your donation because it’s a really good job that they do. […] The first thing I noticed when I came here was how big the Football Club is in the community whether it’s the Foodbank or the owners, everyone does their part. […] For me, it’s helping out as much as I can and doing my part, I don’t think it’s hard to do my bit and come down, just to show how much it helps, and especially a Foodbank like this.”

Clarets’ midfielder Brownhill:

“It’s been an absolutely amazing day all-round, it’s been absolutely fantastic, and with the pandemic, we’ve not been able to have the lads here, but they’ve really wanted to come down and see the work we’ve been doing, so to finally have them in the building is fantastic and a real pleasure. […] The team have operated here throughout the pandemic, and they’ve been feeding lots and lots of people throughout the town and delivering parcels to them and we’re really proud that we’ve met that demand as it’s escalated through Covid and we’ve been doing a next day delivery service which we are really proud of, and we’ve been working with partners and other charities to help where we can. […] The support that we’ve had from the Club and from the wider charity has been amazing, and it’s great to have been part of that wider Burnley FC family and we try and live our values where everything we down is all for the benefit of the club, the town and the community.”

Sean Danaher

Burnley FC’s U18s squad visited the Foodbank at Burnley FC In the Community Kitchen on Thursday to see the impact of the facility around their local area. The youth team were tasked with purchasing items from Tesco Express located on Centenary Way, before taking it up to the Foodbank, where it will be made up into food parcels and distributed to those who need them the most across Burnley, East Lancashire, and West Yorkshire. In partnership alongside Burnley Together, BFCitC Foodbank provide a next-day delivery service

Players donated a large selection of essential food and joined by Clarets’ U18s Head Coach, Tony Philliskirk, and Head of Safeguarding, Helen Tanner, they were given a tour of the facility by Sean Danaher, Community Kitchen and Foodbank Manager, and Nathan Norris, Community Kitchen Assistant Manager. Due to Covid-19, the Foodbank has faced unprecedented demand, and since opening in 2020, it has provided enough food for over 22,000 residents – which is more than Turf Moor’s ground capacity.

“We’ve been down here at the Foodbank, and first and foremost, a big shout out to the U18s and U23s players and staff for donating the money to be able to go into Tesco and take the youth team shopping. […] At first it was fun, but as you are mixing around with them, you realise the magnitude and importance of it, and it makes everyone really realise how lucky we are. […] Listening to the boys as they were shopping, they were saying ‘let’s get this and let’s get that’s checking the dates and making sure they were buying non-perishable goods to last longer, but it’s really made them aware of how fortunate we are, and how difficult it is for some of the families generally at this time of year. […] Just listening to the staff here, they are saying they need 180 or 190 parcels next week for schools, we’ve managed to go shopping and donate, which will go a long way to helping families over the Christmas period, so we are so grateful that we can help. […] It’s great to give back, and even the young lads have the awareness have the situation, and the realisation that a lot of people in this world are less fortunate than we are, and if there’s any way that we can help, that’s great.”

Tony Philliskirk

“It’s an absolutely amazing effort, and we’re so proud and grateful for their time and effort to come and support us. […] These brilliant young footballers have made this really generous donation which is going to go a long way in feeding families over the festive period.”

Sean Danaher