Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Burnley again this Sunday, bringing his wife Mrs Murty to the Burnley Boys and Girls Club alongside local MP Antony Higginbotham.
The visit was his second to the borough in just 6 months, which Antony says is proof that Government is focused on the local area here.
Whilst visiting BBGC, which is located on Barden Lane, the Prime Minister and his wife met with children and young people, including Youth Ambassador’s for the club. A hotly contested table football match also pitted the PM against a joint team including Mrs Murty and local MP Antony Higginbotham.
After spending time with children and young people, seeing the range of activities on offer, time was spent with the staff and trustees running the charity where the Prime Minister recounted his own time as a trustee of a Boys Club.
And with the visit coinciding with the announcement of a further £20 million investment for Burnley from government, Rishi said it was vital we move away from focusing just on cities and more towards towns where the vast majority of people live.
Earlier this year BBGC was also awarded a Government grant worth almost £1 million to expand its facilities, with young people lined up to help with everything from construction and design to final kit out.
Speaking after the visit, Antony Higginbotham MP said:
It was fantastic to welcome the Prime Minister and his wife Mrs Murty to Burnley, to visit Burnley Boys and Girls Club. Being the second visit by the PM in just six months, and to announce a massive amount of extra investment in our area, it shows we really are front and centre for Government.
Graham and the whole team at Burnley Boys and Girls Club do amazing work supporting children and young people across our borough. That’s why Government has awarded them almost £1 million from the Youth Investment Fund, and we heard today what a transformative impact that will have.
It’s clear that with Rishi in Number 10 we have a Prime Minister who is focused on delivering for towns like ours. Together we’re taking our area forward and I can’t wait to welcome him back again.
Graham Vernon, Chief Officer of Burnley Boys and Girls Club said:
When we told the children first thing this morning they thought I was joking. They seriously thought I was joking. They took loads and loads of pictures. I'm going to keep this forever one little girl said. It’s the Prime Minister after all.
For him to come and spend an hour with them this morning in their club to say thank you to them, it's priceless. Absolutely priceless. Really. It's just perfect.
I want to say a huge huge thank you to Antony for arranging this.
