Image: Volunteers from Godolphin, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, and other industry organisations come together at Newmarket Community Hospital.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF RACING TOGETHER

Racing Together has extended the sport’s key day for community volunteering into the Racing Together Community Week, running May 5 -11.

John Blake, Chief Executive of Racing Together, said: “It made sense for this popular initiative to roll out across the week, with record sign-ups from racing organisations and individuals wishing to contribute to a nationwide effort of volunteering for good causes.

“It is great that so many people have stuck their hands up and have found creative ways to improve a small part of life across neighbourhoods in their areas. It works because people find a cause or task that interests them and join forces with other colleagues to plan. We showcase racing’s effort during this week, but so much giving back occurs across the year.”

A record 90-plus racing organisations, racecourses, trainers, owners, and staff will volunteer this week and make a positive impact in their local communities.

Now in its sixth year, the initiative has more than doubled its participation since 2020. It will celebrate the collective efforts of the British racing industry to support activities ranging from school outreach programmes and charity partnerships to clean-up projects and wellbeing sessions.

Newmarket collaboration

One collaborative project is centred on Newmarket and organised by The Racing Centre. Racing organisations are working together for a hands-on morning of gardening and restoration at Newmarket Community Hospital, helping to revitalise five courtyard gardens used by patients, staff, and visitors.

Elsewhere, racing teams are supporting food banks, racehorse rehoming centres, local hospices, schools and much more.

Get involved

Racing Together is keen to help others get involved as Community Week is part of a growing movement to strengthen racing’s social impact and promote opportunities for volunteering and community partnerships throughout the year.

All participating organisations and stories from the week will be featured on http://www.racingtogether.co.uk and across social media using the hashtag #RacingTogether.

If you have not informed Racing Together of your activity or want to pitch in,  please email [email protected].

Racing Together Community Week is a call to action for the sport to unite and showcase its approach to supporting its communities. Everyone is invited to use the week to showcase your year-round initiatives and partnerships, too.

Notes to editors

1. For more information contact Lucy Gurney on [email protected] or 07387 260980.

2. Racing Together is British racing’s community engagement activity and is an open partnership of charities and organisations that work across the sport to benefit others. The initiative is led by the education charity Racing to School and guided by a subcommittee.

Racing Together coordinates, supports, represents and measures British racing’s community engagement and CSR activity. Its vision is for British racing to be known as a ‘force for good’ by helping the communities in which the sport operates. It achieves this by providing practical support and resources; facilitating ideas, collaboration and progress; working on specific nationwide initiatives; hosting inspiring seminars and coordinating Racing Together Community Day, while promoting and sharing best examples of community engagement on an ongoing basis. Racing Together is grateful to the HBLB for its annual funding award.