Match Day Foodbank Collections 2023/24

[BFC Supps Groups]

Unfortunately and sadly, we have to report that there will not be any foodbank collections this season outside the Turf ahead of the day time home games.

We feel we’ve had very little support from either Burnley Football Club or Burnley FC in the Community and there are two stand out reasons in particular for ending the collections.

1. Last season, there were occasions when the food donated was left in bins after the game and was still there ahead of the next collection. The worst example of this was over the Christmas period. The collection before the Middlesbrough game on 17th December was probably the best supported collection ever. The bins were overflowing with donations, this after we’d provided a lot of publicity ahead of the game on social media and on Up the Clarets. When the volunteers arrived for the Coventry game four weeks later, those donations were still there outside Turf Moor in the bins. They had not, as had been promised, gone to needy families over the festive period. We have been given no assurances that this wouldn’t be the case again in the future.

2. There was an incident ahead of the QPR game, our last collection in the 2022/23 season, when one of our volunteers received a warning from the club for his behaviour towards a member of the Community staff. This is still an ongoing situation although the club have received several witness statements refuting all the allegations made. Given this, we feel it would be very difficult to ask people to volunteer and place them in such a vulnerable position.

We would like to thank all those supporters who volunteered their services during the time we’ve been running the collections, from the beginning of the 2019/20 season, and it would be remiss of us not to take the opportunity to mention Janis who volunteered on many occasions with North Manchester Clarets. Janis sadly passed away recently after a short illness and we’d wish to pass on our condolences to her husband Geoff and all her family and friends, particularly her grandsons Ryan and Marcus who, like Geoff & Janis, are committed Clarets.

Finally, and most importantly, we would like to thank all of you who have donated items during the time we’ve been doing the collections. Your wonderful and generous support has helped those people in most need in these difficult times.

[Silkyskills1]

That is extremely disappointing. Became part of my match day routine to donate items for needy people. A real shame because there are so many people still going hungry and numbers are not going down. Just shouldn't be happening in 2023.

[Quickenthetempo]

Shocking behaviour by the club leaving the food over Xmas.

Well done to all the volunteers and donaters of food.

Hopefully the food bank will be well funded by prem money.

[jdrobbo]

Speaking for myself and on behalf of at least 20 members of West Yorkshire Clarets, we are ENORMOUSLY disappointed about this. But we understand the reasons behind it.

This was a BFCSG initiative. This was something that we took to the Community. We have been one of several invested supporters clubs, generously giving up our time on matchdays, asking very little of the club or community in return.

It’s a massive shame and I hope something can be done about it.

John

[daveisaclaret]

It feels like the football club wants great PR and wants to be at the centre of the community but only as long as they can do so on their own terms.

For any organisation to leave food donations sat in bins over the Christmas period is frankly disgusting.

[The Hung Juror]

Leaving the food in the bins is shocking and unforgivable by the club and for those doing the collecting it must have been a real kick in the teeth I would suggest.

An understatement to say it’s extremely disappointing that the club have not fully supported the food collection, given the direct effect and benefit it has on the more vulnerable people in our community.

Surely this cannot be the end of what is a very worthwhile initiative, and which requires relatively very little effort on the part of those of us who contribute.

[Stanbill05]

How does a supporters group initiative become the Clubs fault? I assume they'd agreed to do something then didn't?

[beddie]

Has anyone approached Mr Pace with a view to having a meeting with him in order to discuss this.He comes across to me anyway as approachable.

[ClaretTony]

I think I must add to this and confirm that the football club do not run the foodbank. I was at a meeting with club representatives during last season when we asked them to give us some support in publicising the collections and we were told that it was nothing to do with the club, that it was Burnley FC in the Community.

[beddie]

Isn’t the actual issue that a volunteer(s) is/are required to pick up the food in a transit type van once a fortnight and drive it to the foodbank. Perhaps someone wants to drop Dave Fishwick an email. He just the sort of person that would sort this without complications. Just a thought.

[Longsidelenny1882]

Very sad if I wrote down what I really though probably get banned from the message board hold your heads in shame the people who left the food in the bins over Christmas

[jdrobbo]

I think I must add to this and confirm that the football club do not run the foodbank. I was at a meeting with club representatives during last season when we asked them to give us some support in publicising the collections and we were told that it was nothing to do with the club, that it was Burnley FC in the Community.

Indeed.

[IanMcL]

Burnley FC in the Community
Burnley FC

Hmm...

I seem to recall that Burnley FC are the large funder of its Community arm and gave taken lots of credit, for supporting the community.

This is a very sad moment, in our club's history, throughout which, the people who support the club and seen it through bad times, have seen the club reach out when it can.

Somewhere an individual knows about the Christmas collection and why they left it there. I wonder if they even paused for a moment?

Thanks to all who made us proud to donate, by giving up time and being there to receive.

[Rodleydave]

Ian the club has in Clive Holt's time bailed out the Comm section when it has overspent. It was thus a bone of contention.
Alan Pace I think is involved, not sure how deeply. Or at least has attended meetings. But for years club and Comm were very separate things.
The foodbank thing is a disgrace.
Funnily enough yesterday I put a pic on FB of a 2004 book launch dinner, packed house, manager there, 15 ex players, dinner, Fletch and Kindo the double act.
Fantastic night. Did more than one of these evenings.
For all the glitz, glamour, flashing lights, celebrities, upgrades, fine dining, food ordering terminals that we have today, and promotion, those nights are gone.
Now there isn't even a Supporters Awards night. What a night that could have been this year.
The Comm Annual Charity dinner fundraiser was switched to Manchester at £3000 I think a table.
Us mere mortals could only stand at the window and look in.
There is a fans forum group but half the time it is sworn to secrecy.
I know people on it that have pointed questions to ask.
I hope the food bank issue is one of them.

[IanMcL]

Ian the club has in Clive Holt's time bailed out the Comm section when it has overspent. It was thus a bone of contention.

Thanks Dave. I seem to remember.ber the club appearing, at least, to be heavily involved in the funding of the Leisure Box - or have I misunderstood the propaganda of the time?

The players all seem to be involved too.

If separate, who runs it and what has it got to do with Burnley FC?

Cheers

Ian

[IanMcL]

Ps. They also say they are the official, award winning charity of Burnley FC.

I am not sure the club can distance themselves from its activities, to the point of denial!

[IanMcL]

Too late for edit...

They also live in Turf Moor and use the Burnleyfc.com emails.

[Rodleydave]

It was always separate although yes it lives in the building.
Perhaps it is a grey hazy area now.
Perhaps Pace has been warned that when the Comm gets over ambitious it verges on running out of money... and what does the club do then...
I always joke it is one of the town's biggest employers... and it is all funded separate from the club with grants, donations, fundraising, etc. FA maybe?
When it is successful and prestigious yes the hierarchy will be there to share the glory.

[jdrobbo]

Without going into too much detail on my personal thoughts on the subject, my overriding wish from all of this, is that if BFCSG had been given full autonomy for purchase of wheelie bins, advertisement, volunteers, and dropping off at the community kitchen, but just given a little bit more support with social media, matchday program coverage, big screen advertisements, then this project ON MATCH DAYS now would be absolutely enormous. HUGE.

[IanMcL]

These are the Trustees responsible. An illustrious list, which clearly link and boadt of club links. The club can't have it all ways!

https://burnleyfccommunity.org/board-of-trustees/

[claptrappers_union]

Without going into too much detail on my personal thoughts on the subject, my overriding wish from all of this, is that if BFCSG had been given full autonomy for purchase of wheelie bins, advertisement, volunteers, and dropping off at the community kitchen, but just given a little bit more support with social media, matchday program coverage, big screen advertisements, then this project ON MATCH DAYS now would be absolutely enormous. HUGE.

Supporting the local community doesn't make you money though. It's a lot less effort to get good PR by wiping down a table in a documentary.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Supporting the local community doesn't make you money though. It's a lot less effort to get good PR by wiping down a table in a documentary.

You do like a dig at Pace when you can don't you ?

[Nori1958]

You do like a dig at Pace when you can don't you ?

They're not the only one...unfortunately

[ClaretAndJew]

Not sure if this is the right thread to post in, or if a new one would have been better, however, I follow someone on TikTok who's videos show how to make healthy, cheap meals.

He's partnered with Burnley F.C and Burnley F.C in the Community.

On 16th September they are hoping to fill every seat with a box of ingredients to feed a family of 4.

Sounds like some good stuff is still happening from that side of the club/charity.

Here's the video:

https://www.tiktok.com/@mealswithmax/vi ... 5404449057

[IanMcL]

Not sure I get that.

[ClaretAndJew]

Not sure I get that.

I don't entirely know the logistics of it, if it's requiring donations or anything from people locally or if it's just going to be a cash donation type thing from his followers. I also don't know if it's a literal box of ingredients or just the equivalent in cash. It's interesting though and good that something is still happening on that side of things.

[IanMcL]

I don't entirely know the logistics of it, if it's requiring donations or anything from people locally or if it's just going to be a cash donation type thing from his followers. I also don't know if it's a literal box of ingredients or just the equivalent in cash. It's interesting though and good that something is still happening on that side of things.

That's it. What's the process and how. Who, in the end, benefits? Are the seats being filled or is that just a figurative thing? 88000 is more than Old Trafford can hold!

[ClaretAndJew]

That's it. What's the process and how. Who, in the end, benefits? Are the seats being filled or is that just a figurative thing? 88000 is more than Old Trafford can hold!

I imagine it's to go towards the people of Burnley, I will do some digging and see if I can get a response from his social media.

[beddie]

Having read all this I’m still not exactly sure what the problem is. Who normally collects it and why didn’t they, and if they were unable to for whatever reason who should they have advised. What am I missing?

[Leisure]

That's it. What's the process and how. Who, in the end, benefits? Are the seats being filled or is that just a figurative thing? 88000 is more than Old Trafford can hold!

It's 22000 X a box of food for 4 ( to take home, presumably!). And if that is the case there could be a lot of waste, as I can't imagine everyone trailing their box around the pubs after the game!

[ClaretAndJew]

It's 22000 X a box of food for 4 ( to take home, presumably!). And if that is the case there could be a lot of waste, as I can't imagine everyone trailing their box around the pubs after the game!

But it's happening on a day when there isn't a game.

It's an interesting idea whatever it is, and hopefully waste will be minimised and managed accordingly.

[Leon_C]

Having read all this I’m still not exactly sure what the problem is. Who normally collects it and why didn’t they, and if they were unable to for whatever reason who should they have advised. What am I missing?

Same question here.

Feels like there's surreptitious finger pointing - to the point where somebody is actually listing the trustees of BFCITC to generate shame.
Is there an accusation that BFCITC are actually at fault for a single failed collection* (which is the primary reason for this post)?

*other failures are implied, but not detailed.

[StayingDown4Ever]

I’m not sure either what was supposed to happen regarding the collection?

I always assumed the volunteers would have taken the collection where it needs to go? I understand they probably went on the game first but if they didn’t see the collection had to go to where it needed to after the game - was their purpose just to stand next to the bins for an hour before each game?

[IanMcL]

It's 22000 X a box of food for 4 ( to take home, presumably!). And if that is the case there could be a lot of waste, as I can't imagine everyone trailing their box around the pubs after the game!

But 22000 don't need a meal for 4 from a foodbank! That's what made me think it was just symbolic. Otherwise, as you say....just wasting food.

[deanothedino]

These are the Trustees responsible. An illustrious list, which clearly link and boadt of club links. The club can't have it all ways!

https://burnleyfccommunity.org/board-of-trustees/

Philip Wilson