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Alan Burley

Alan Burley has a deep connection to Grimsby. Over the years, from his time growing up in the East Marsh, to his roles working with some of the area’s most needed charities, community groups, and organisations, Alan’s love for his hometown developed into a true sense of Community.

After leaving school and ending his apprenticeship, Alan took a summer job at a local food factory – and stayed with the company for 22 years. Redundancies were made and Alan was able to take some time for himself and his family. He came across an advert from a local parent, who was looking for support for her autistic child, simply looking for someone to help take them for walks. Alan reached out to the parent, offered his help, and that was the start of his path into community work.


Since that moment, Alan has been a support worker at Linkage, a local charity supporting people with learning difficulties, worked as a part of a national housing association in Goole, where he taught life skills such as cooking and budgeting, and became a Neighbourhood Engagement Officer for Shoreline Housing Partnership. He has volunteered for the Shalom Youth Centre, taken on the role of Project Manager for East Marsh Involve, became a Trustee for homeless support charity Harbour Place, and for five years, worked at the YMCA as their Funding/Volunteer Coordinator, helping to bring in significant funding to the organisation as well as increasing their volunteer base. This is all in addition to his political career, where Alan served on Grimsby and NELC Councils for 14 years during which he held the posts of Chairman of both the Estates and Planning Committees.


For the past 3 years, Alan has been employed as the Community Worker for the West Marsh Development Trust. In this role, he works closely with Centre Manager, Neil, and it’s committed team of volunteers attracting funding to support help the growing number of community clubs, classes, and projects taking place at the Centre.

Around 500 people use the services of West Marsh Community Centre each week, from families needing support at the newly established baby bank or the food larder, to children and young people accessing boxing, karate, or football, to those wanting to socialise at craft clubs, cooking classes, community bingo, or as a part of a heritage project. Alan and the team’s latest project supporting refugee families, who are currently going through the process and settling in the area.


“The key to all here at the West Marsh Community Centre, is listening to the people who are coming to use our services,” Alan said. “We’re not another voice telling them what they need, we listen to what they’re saying they need and we do what we can to help them. That’s our ethos, just try to help people out.


Alan’s main volunteering roles in his own time involves giving back to the East Marsh community that supported him growing up. He says It’s a lovely feeling giving something back.. I don’t do it for the thanks, but it is lovely when you do get a thank you. It makes it all worthwhile.”


In his personal time, you will often find Alan at Blundell Park on match days – he has been watching GTFC play since he was eight years old. He is a father, proud grandfather, and great-grandfather, and makes the point that he would not have achieved much of what he has in life without the support of his wife Linda. 


Words by Lindsay Cowie

Photography by Dan Clarke

Portrait proudly sponsored by...

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