Around 1,500 Young Adults Gather in Lancashire to Support Local Charities

Around 1,500 young adults from across Europe gathered at Turf Moor, the home of Burnley FC, to support three local charities, helping to prepare a six-month supply of food and assemble over 1,500 hygiene kits for organisations serving women and children in need across Lancashire.

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The project was coordinated and funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The young adults, aged 18 to 35, were attending a multi-day conference hosted by the Church, the largest annual gathering of young Latter-day Saints in Europe.

A Day of Service and Community

Working in teams across the stadium, participants prepared a six-month supply of food packages for individuals and families in need across Burnley, in aid of the foodbank at Burnley FC in the Community, providing an estimated six months of essential supplies for those in need. A further 1,500 hygiene kits containing toiletries and personal care essentials were assembled for distribution by SafeNet and Lancashire Women to support vulnerable local women and children.

The three charities – Lancashire Women, Safenet, and Burnley FC in the Community – were selected for the breadth and urgency of the need they address across the Burnley and Lancashire region.

Oliver Ryan, Member of Parliament for Burnley, visited the service project during the day, meeting with volunteers from across Europe and observing the scale of the effort taking place throughout Turf Moor. He spoke with young adults participating in the project, learned about the charities benefiting from the initiative, and saw first-hand the thousands of food packages and hygiene kits being prepared for distribution across Lancashire.

Reflecting on the experience, he said:

"I was genuinely blown away by the work these young people carried out here in Burnley.

“To see young people from 24 countries come into the heart of our community and support organisations like, Lancashire Women, Safenet and BFC in the Community was remarkable.

“A huge thank you to everyone who helped organise the project. But most importantly, thank you to the young people who gave up their weekend to be here. The work you've done will make a real difference to people's lives."

Helen Gurman, the CEO of Burnley FC in the Community, the charity arm of Burnley Football Club, said:

“We were delighted to welcome so many young adults from across Europe to Turf Moor and to see the incredible energy and commitment they brought to serving others. The scale of what was achieved in just one day is remarkable and will make a real difference to individuals and families across Burnley and Lancashire who rely on our foodbank services. Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of communities coming together to support others, and we are grateful to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and every volunteer who contributed their time and effort.”

A Faith Rooted in Service

While the conference included worship services, workshops and opportunities for friendship, organisers emphasised that service was a central part of the experience. Leaders hoped the project would give young adults an opportunity to put their faith into action by serving others and making a meaningful contribution to the local community.

Elder Mark Dundon, an Area Seventy in the United Kingdom, reflected on what the day represented: “One of our goals in bringing these young adults together was to give them a chance to be the answer to someone else’s prayer. We wanted them to feel that every item they packed, would then go on to reach a person in need. We believe that is the spirit of the ministry and gospel of Jesus Christ.”

He added: “We hope that this spirit will inspire these young people to serve in their own communities with love, regardless of nationality, faith, or background.”

For many of the young adults, the opportunity to serve alongside peers from across Europe was one of the most memorable aspects of the conference. Participants spoke of the friendships they formed, the satisfaction of helping others, and the significance of knowing their efforts would benefit local families and individuals in need.

Alexa, who lives in Chorley, Lancashire, said:

“It’s been a great experience to serve alongside so many people who all want to help. There’s something special about seeing young adults from so many different countries come together for a common purpose. Knowing that what we’ve done today will support local families makes it even more meaningful, especially because Lancashire is my home and these are people from my own community.”

Others reflected on the sense of unity and shared purpose created through the project. Reuben, from Newbury, said:

“Being able to come together, especially with my close friends, and being able to put together food for communities and people we know need it, has been really meaningful… I would say to the people we've helped this morning: we love you, and Jesus Christ loves you.”

Noah, also from Newbury, said the service project helped participants look beyond the conference itself and focus on the needs of others:

“The service was great. Being able to take on something that is bigger than the convention itself by helping people in the community was really special… I hope [those we are helping] can feel the love that the Saviour has for them.”

Reuben, from Chester, said the experience demonstrated how service can bring people together while making a difference in the lives of others:

“Our mission as members of The Church of Jesus Christ is to reach out, one by one, and care for people in ways that we can… I've really enjoyed seeing so many young adults come together and spend time with different people while serving members of the community.”

The service project formed part of the Church's annual Europe Young Single Adult Conference, which brings together young adults from across the continent for worship, learning, friendship and service.