A football club has announced they are partnering with a charity which aims to increase awareness and understanding of different faiths.

Burnley FC, alongside its community-focussed arm Burnley FC in the Community, is partnering with Building Bridges Burnley as their official charity partner for the 2023/24 season.

The announcement is described as a key step in enhancing the relationship between the interfaith organisation and the club, signifying a commitment to ensuring Burnley FC is ‘one club for all’.

Both the football club and Building Bridges Burnley are advocates for increasing diversity and ensuring the Burnley community as a whole is represented within the club’s fanbase.

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The partnership aims to allow Building Bridges to work with more of the community, reaching and influencing further, whilst offering the opportunity to bring new people to Turf Moor to experience the club for the first time.

Stuart Hunt, president of Burnley FC, said: “Building Bridges is a very important initiative for us.

"This club means so much to the community of Burnley and it’s something that’s necessary.

“We believe in the diversity of faith, we believe in the diversity and inclusion of all people, and this is a major initiative for us, to be able to team up with Building Bridges and move it forward – we’re excited about it.”

Throughout the season the partnership will deliver a programme of events, including a community Iftar, a multi-faith tournament, a carol concert, and more.

Burnley FC in the Community’s chief executive, Helen Gurman, added: “We are really looking forward to working with Building Bridges as part of this unique partnership, which will allow us to reach new participants, expand our reach, and provide outstanding support to the community of Burnley and beyond.

“We are particularly looking forward to some exciting events throughout the year which will give new opportunities to our community to connect with Burnley Football Club and Burnley FC in the Community.”

As part of the partnership launch, members of Building Bridges Burnley were invited to the club’s training ground for a tour of the facility and to speak with leaders from the club and the community branch.

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Afrasiab Anwar, chair of Building Bridges Burnley, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to announce our partnership with Burnley Football Club.

"This represents an incredibly exciting opportunity for us to expand the reach of our message to a wider audience.

“Our collaboration with Burnley FC grants us access to an audience that would typically be beyond our reach.

"Our primary objective is to contribute to the club’s advancement by sharing our expertise and knowledge is community engagement, diversity, and inclusion.

“It’s genuinely heart-warming to witness the outstanding work happening at Turf Moor and it’s great to see our vision of an inclusive Burnley, where everyone is valued, harmoniously aligns with the club’s goal of fostering a fanbase that mirrors the diverse community of Burnley.”