Racing Welfare is saying thank you to the racing industry, as they have announced that their Covid-19 Emergency Appeal has hit its £500k target.
The appeal was launched when the pandemic hit to make up for the huge income deficit that the charity faced as COVID meant the cancellation of their usual fundraising events. It is testament to the generosity of the racing industry that the £500k target has been reached before the end of the year.
The announcement comes in the same week the charity has sent out nearly 600 Christmas Boxes to retired racing staff who in normal times would be joining together for Christmas lunches across the country. Finding ways of bringing the racing community together during the pandemic has been a key part of the charity’s work to combat loneliness and isolation during 2020. Projects such as check-in calls and the Facebook group, Racing Conversation, have provided lifelines to many over what has been a tough time.
Fran Marshall, a member of the Racing Conversation group said: “Having worked at racecourses in a sociable, customer facing role for more than 30 years it was a big change to suddenly have to self-isolate on my own.
“Racing Welfare’s weekly Racing Conversation Q&A’s have helped me to feel that sense of community and to connect with others, albeit from behind a screen. The hosts are entertaining, informative and give insight right across the industry, I look forward to tuning in every Thursday.”
The kindness and generosity shown by donors from across the racing industry has been astounding and Racing Welfare is keen to say a huge thank you to each and every person who has donated to their Emergency Appeal over the last few months. The success of the charity’s virtual events has also played a big role in reaching the £500k target. From big racing organisations to individual donors, every penny contributed has helped the charity to adapt quickly to the changes this year has brought and enabled them to continue to provide crucial services to racing’s workforce.
Racing Welfare Chief Executive, Dawn Goodfellow said: “I can honestly say that we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the racing community. The news that we have hit our target is a great boost as we head towards the end of 2020 and is a wonderful reflection of the unwavering support we have received this year. I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who has donated during what has been a tough time for so many.
I very much hope everyone in the industry is able to enjoy the festive period and remind anyone who needs support that Racing Welfare remains available 24/7 throughout this time.”
Racing Welfare
Racing Welfare is the only charity that supports all of racing’s people – including stud, stable and racecourse staff, alongside those working in associated professions – from their recruitment right through into retirement. The charity provides a wide range of advice and guidance services, all of which are completely confidential and non-judgmental. Support is available for a wide range of life’s challenges, including physical health, mental health, bereavement, careers advice, housing, money advice, illness, addiction, relationships and retirement. Racing Welfare’s services are nationally accessible with offices in all of the main racing centres and roving Welfare Officers covering the whole of the country.
The charity owns 164 units of accommodation across the UK, with a focus on providing housing for young people working in racing and those who have retired from the industry which are managed by its housing arm, Racing Homes.
Racing’s Support Line, a multi-channel support platform, allows people to contact the charity online as well as through a 24hr telephone line.
Website: www.racingwelfare.co.uk
Racing’s Support Line: 0800 6300 443
Online self-help resources: www.support.racingwelfare.co.uk
Donate to Racing Welfare here: https://racingwelfare.co.uk/campaigns/donate/
Karen can usually be found glued to her computer or at the stables. Having edited several national magazines she co-founded Eclipse Magazine in 2008 after realising that many of her friends were nervous about going racing due to lack of information – what to wear, how to bet etc.
She absolutely loves her job (how many people can say that?!) and is truly grateful to all supporters of and contributors to Eclipse Magazine.
If you are reading this she would like to say THANK YOU! (And please spread the word about Eclipse…!!)
