Burnley: An Honest Conversation

How do we bring people together, build confidence, and strengthen the sense of purpose and togetherness across Burnley?

Join us for a powerful day of ideas, practical tools, and inspiring conversations designed to help Burnley move forward - stronger, more connected, and more hopeful.

We are bringing together leading voices and activists in community bridge building and social cohesion, offering approaches that are easy to engage with, often fun, yet grounded in creating a better future for all in Burnley. Alongside them, and more importantly, we are bringing together and celebrating the people already doing this work here - because this is a Burnley conversation, led by Burnley people.

Why come?

Your voice, on the record. This is your chance to speak for your community, have an honest conversation about where we are and shape what happens next in Burnley. Nothing is decided. The point of the day is to hear from you.

Bring more funding into Burnley. We're building a bid to bring significant new investment into the town, and the strength of that bid depends on how many people stand behind it. If you're here, you're part of it and can help shape it.

Meet people you haven't met yet. We're particularly keen to hear from groups who aren't already part of the usual conversations - small, new, informal, or simply not on anyone's list. If that's you, you're exactly who we want in the room.

Free support for grassroots groups. Find out more about the Nurturing Grassroots programme which offers free, practical help to small organisations and CICs - governance, funding, planning, whatever you actually need.

Celebrate what's already here. Alongside the serious conversations, this is a day to celebrate the connections that already hold Burnley together, and to enjoy each other's company.

Who it's for

Community groups, faith organisations, grassroots projects, volunteers, residents' associations, youth groups, public sector workers and leaders - anyone who cares about how Burnley gets on together. Whether you run an organisation or just turn up and help out, you're welcome. This is an opportunity to bring together all of Burnley's communities in one room and map out a future that we can all be part of.

Workshops, speakers and contributors to be confirmed.

Free to attend. Lunch and refreshments provided. Everyone welcome.

Join us to celebrate what each of us brings to our town and to build on what we share.

Please note that we expect this event to be popular, so spaces are limited to two people per organisation. We would also like to stress that this is an ALL DAY event and to get the most out of it we ask that you commit to staying for the duration.

A partnership with Burnley Council, Burnley CVS, New Neighbours Together, Burnley Leisure & Culture, Building Bridges in Burnley, West End Community Centre, Burnley Youth Theatre

Facilitated by Civil Society Together