Building Bridges in Burnley has been successfully awarded £185,454 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to be delivered over the next three years.

The cash will support a new heritage project focused on the 25 history of the organisation and the history of the Grade II Listed Canalside building and the communities that have lived, worked and worshipped around it.

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This investment represents a major milestone for the organisation, which was awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024, recognising its outstanding contribution to community cohesion and interfaith work across Burnley and East Lancashire. The project follows the recent acquisition of the Canalside Community Centre on Lindsay Street, secured through a Community Asset Transfer. This funding forms a central part of Building Bridges’ ambition to bring the centre back to life, transforming it into a vibrant community and faith hub welcoming people from all backgrounds, cultures and faiths.

A Lottery cash grant for Building Bridges in Burnley will support a new heritage project focused on the 25 history of the organisation and the heritage of the Grade II Listed Canalside building (pictured) and the communities that have lived, worked and worshipped around it.

The Roots and Horizons Heritage Project, predominantly funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a 3 year exploration and celebration of both Building Bridges in Burnley’s 25 year history and the heritage of Canalside, a Grade II Listed building which was built for the Ancient Order of Foresters in the 1800s, became Burnley’s Labour Exchange in 1910 and then the British Legion Club and Canalside Community Centre later in the 20th Century.

The heritage project will explore the impactful history of Building Bridges and the rich social history of Canalside, capturing stories of local residents, workers, families and communities through research, archiving, oral histories, learning activities, exhibitions and creative community projects. Engagement with the local community is at the heart of this project and the activity will reach many of the diverse communities in Burnley through partnerships with local schools and community groups. Through creative projects, a touring pop up exhibition, a mural at Canalside and a digital screen which will display archive material, Roots and Horizons will ensure this shared community heritage will be preserved and celebrated for future generations.

Chairman of trustees Afrasiab Anwar said: “This is an exciting new chapter for Building Bridges in Burnley and for the town as a whole. The project offers a unique opportunity to engage across communities, strengthen understanding and promote cohesion by connecting people through our shared local heritage. We are so grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their generous support and we can’t wait to get the project started.”

As part of the funding, there are two exciting opportunities to join the team at Building Bridges’ team, that was established in response to the nationally significant race disturbances that took place in Burnley in 2001, as the project’s Programme Manager or Heritage Curator. More information about these roles can be found on the website at www.buildingbridgesburnley.com

Members of Building Bridges in Burnley when they received the King's Award for Voluntary Service in 2024

Building Bridges in Burnley is also always keen to hear from people interested in becoming volunteers or trustees. There are many ways to get involved in shaping this exciting programme and supporting the organisation’s wider mission to bring communities together. For further information about the project or how to get involved, please get in touch at [email protected]