TURF MOOR HOSTS SECOND COMMUNITY IFTAR

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Building Bridges Burnley, BFCitC & Club come together for celebration

2024-04-05T10:30:00.000Z

TURF MOOR HOSTS SECOND COMMUNITY IFTAR

Building Bridges Burnley, BFCitC & Club come together for celebration

2024-04-05T10:30:00.000Z

Building Bridges Burnley, BFCitC & Club come together for celebration

Burnley FC’s North Stand was the location for the Club’s second Community Iftar recently.

Organised by Burnley FC in the Community, Building Bridges Burnley and Burnley FC, the event saw members of the community including Islamic Relief, community leaders and Club staff come together to celebrate Ramdan.

Players from Burnley FC’s Academy were also in attendance to learn more about Ramdan and to break fast with the group.

Earlier in the season the Club and community department announced Building Bridges as an Official Charity Partner for the 2023/24 campaign.

The announcement was a key step in enhancing the existing relationship between the interfaith organisation and the Club, signifying Burnley FC’s commitment to ensuring it is One Club for All.

Talking about the importance of the event, Cllr Afrasiab Anwar MBE, Leader - Burnley Council and Building Bridges Burnley said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to be here for the second Community Iftar organised in partnership with Building Bridges, Burnley FC in the Community and the football club.

“It’s vital because what it gives us the opportunity to do is come together as a whole community and celebrate. I think what we don’t do often enough, or we need to see more of is actually celebrating what we have in common rather than looking at the differences.

“The Club plays a major part in everything that happens in this town. Building Bridges is about bringing all of our communities together. So, the fact that Building Bridges and Burnley Football Club are working together on initiatives like this is absolutely fantastic.”

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Helen Gurman, Chief Executive Officer of Burnley FC in the Community was also delighted to see the event return to Turf Moor the that it offered the Academy players the opportunity to learn more about Ramadan.

“I think it’s really important, especially in a place like Burnley where the community is so diverse. As a Club we really are One Club for All, we want to recognise that we are here for the full community. And just to be able to learn about different religion, a different celebration, it’s really humbling. I think it’s great to see so many people here celebrating.

“I think it’s so powerful for young people to have that knowledge so they can support their peers, can support their friends. I think it’s phenomenal to fast and play at an elite level of sport. And to have an understanding of now I know why my friend is fasting, what that feels like to them. To see what the breaking of the fast looks like and what an Iftar is, is great because they can then go back and talk about that.”

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Adam Abbas from the Burnley FC Academy U18s is currently fasting and was pleased that several of his teammates could join him on the evening to find out more about Ramadan.

“I’m happy to be here. It’s good to see everyone here and support the local community and Muslims in the community of Burnley. It’s important to show respect to everyone on and off the pitch. It’s a big month for Muslims and we’ve got to show our support.

“It’s good to see my teammates here as well. If it was just me it would have still been good but it’s good that other teammates are coming as well, showing their support and their interest.”

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Fellow Academy players Braidin Derbyshire and Frankie McMahon Brown found the evening insightful as they found out more about the work of Building Bridges Burnley.

“For me personally, I’ve never done anything like this before, so I thought it was going to be a good experience to come and meet new people and get to know a bit more about Ramadan,” said Braidin.

“It’s interesting, I haven’t heard anything like it before. Seeing some of my teammates break their fast with dates so I could join in with that as well. It’s good.”