In pictures: A night to remember at the Active Burnley Awards
By John Deehan
Published 7th Jul 2023, 15:26 BST
Updated 7th Jul 2023, 15:26 BST
There was no shortage of local sporting superstars at this year’s Active Burnley Awards.
Hosted by former Lionesses goalkeeper turned TV pundit, Rachel Brown-Finnis, the awards are held each year to celebrate those in the borough who work tirelessly to support individuals or clubs, for the love of the sport or their community.
Here’s a closer look at all the big winners from a glittering night at the Burnely Mechanics:
9. Health and Wellbeing Award – Bea Foster
(Award collected by friend and colleague Annette Bailey) Bea has been an outstanding youth worker in Burnley for more than 40 years, initially through her role with Lancashire County Council’s Youth Service before retirement. She has continued to be just as active in retirement through the third and faith sectors in which she worked with distinction alongside her mainstream career – a dedication resulting in countless young people becoming active in various forms of public service. She has helped young people from diverse backgrounds to participate in a wide variety of sports and cultural activities. Bea played a leading role in developing a multi-faith and multi-cultural response to the disturbances of 2001 and has continued this important work through Building Bridges in Burnley. She has also been a key player in securing the future of West End Community Centre and has served as a local councillor following her retirement. Photo: Andy Ford
10. Active Workplace of the Year Award - Birchall Foodservice
This award is for local businesses that have gone above and beyond to support employees’ physical health and wellbeing – both of which Birchall Foodservice see as being integral to employee development. To help their staff lead healthier lifestyles, they provide fresh fruit bowls, free fitness classes, standing desks, and reduced cost gym memberships for all employees. They also have a fully qualified counsellor regularly visiting the site to offer free counselling to any employee who needs it and have employed a full time in-house chef to prepare daily fresh meals, all subsidised by the company. Employees can enjoy nutritious meals for as little as £1, have fresh salads prepared for them daily for £1.50 and the chef cooks weekly specials, all combining in healthier diets and saving staff money. Birchall’s community support is prodigious too. For the past three years, they have been the headline sponsor of Towneley Golf Course, enabling their employees to enjoy complimentary golf on the course and at the Prairie Sports Village driving range. They are also the main sponsor of Lowerhouse Cricket Club and other sponsorships include a player at a local rugby club and an under-15s football team. All of this is underpinned by an in-house charity, Helping Hands, providing financial and other support for employees and their families. Photo: Andy Ford
11. Contribution to Active Communities – Ejaz Hussain, Burnley Cricket League
(Collected by fellow Towneley cricketer Kamran Prizada) Ejaz is responsible for the resurgence of cricket at Towneley Park, once a hotbed of the game until 2015 when its demise came about through a combination of factors. Following the pandemic, Ejaz and a number of other cricket enthusiasts decided they would bring cricket back to Towneley to promote physical activity, improve mental health, and promote the sport. Without any funding or support and working in partnership with the local authority and community leaders, they encouraged teams to enter the league and in its first season back, four teams competed in a cup and league competition. The aim now is to add more teams as time goes by. As well as benefitting those playing, the return of cricket to Towneley has brought a little extra to the park, with passers-by regularly stopping to watch the games. Photo: Andy Ford