Burnley FC in running for '˜Community Club of Year' title

Burnley FC in the Community has been shortlisted for the prestigious Community Club of the Year award at April's upcoming Football League Awards.

This is the first time Burnley FC has been nominated for the award and of the 72 clubs that make up The Football League, the Clarets are one of only six to be shortlisted.

As the club nominated in the North-West, Burnley FC will face stiff competition from the likes of Burton Albion, Brighton and Hove Albion, Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic and Rotherham United.

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Formed in February 2014, the club’s official charity has come a long way in just two years. From a starting point of just three staff members and no funding, the charity now employs more than 30 people and delivers 30 community projects across Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, West Yorkshire and the Ribble Valley.

Over the past year alone, the organisation engaged with an astonishing 35,000 people from across the region.

Working with 59 schools and up to 600 disabled people every week, the charity also delivered free sports coaching to over 400 young people per week and 500 girls played football with the charity. 120 young people also completed NCS, almost 700 took part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award and up to 85% of those who took part in the charity’s employability course progressed onto work, further education or training.

Neil Hart, CEO of Burnley FC in the Community said: “We are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for this fantastic award.

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“We are truly a club that prides itself on togetherness; from the manager and the directors to the players and club staff, we are one team supporting each other, supporting our communities – and that is what makes us strong.

“This nod is testament to that club-wide way of working and we will certainly look forward to the awards ceremony in April.”