A FOOTBALL charity is set to open its new town centre community kitchen next month.

Burnley FC in the Community is just weeks away from opening its new community kitchen, which will be based at the former J3 clothing store in Market Square, Burnley.

It will feature a supermarket-style foodbank, a discount sportswear shop, library and a community café, which will include a seating area catered to at least 50 people.

Cooking lessons will also be provided and staff will be on hand to help assess people’s needs.

Burnley FC in the Community’s deputy chief executive officer Paul France, who has spearheaded the project, said: “Twenty of Burnley’s 27 wards are classed as socially deprived, with some of the highest levels of childhood obesity, and children suffer from ‘holiday hunger’ when they don’t get free school meals.

“The power of Burnley FC’s brand opens doors and makes a difference.

“The building is a big space and we wanted to use it to best effect and give people the dignity of choice and support they want.

“The supermarket-style foodbank will offer people dignity and choice rather than just a food hamper.

“We are coming to the end of the refurbishment and excited to see it open.”

Mr France also thanked CoolKit and other businesses such as Calico, Community Re-Paint, Quorn, Warburtons and Bright LED for their support.

A total of 30 businesses have already donated home furniture, building materials and food products to community kitchen bosses.

One of the most recent donations sent to the community group included a refrigerated van conversion from CoolKit, based in Farrington Place, Burnley.

This will be used to deliver food to school breakfast clubs, refuges and other causes.

The van will also collect donations of surplus stock and food nearing its best-before date from shops and transport them to the warehouse.

Loredana Emmerson, marketing manager at CoolKit, said: “It’s a pleasure to be involved with such a worthwhile project. As ‘friends of Burnley FC In The Community’ we have decided to announce this project as our charity of the year.”

Burnley Community Kitchen, painted in claret and blue, is expected to launch in June and will be open six days a week.