• Racing Together supporting national volunteering event ‘Give & Gain Day’ on Friday 15 May
• Run by ‘Business in the Community’, it is the only nationally organised day of volunteering
• Over 300 hours donated to the cause across British Racing

 

Racing Together, British Racing’s collective banner for community engagement, is working on behalf of the British Racing industry and gearing up to participate in Give & Gain Day 2015, Britain’s only nationally organised day of volunteering.

Run by Business in the Community, Give & Gain Day provides businesses across Britain with an opportunity to engage with their locality and build lasting relationships with those that share the communities in which they operate.

Stakeholders from across British Racing have embraced the notion of Give & Gain Day with a variety of projects. Confirmed participants to date include:

• The British Horseracing Authority (BHA)
• The Racecourse Assocation (RCA)
• Aintree Racecourse
• Ascot Racecourse
• Chelmsford City Racecourse
• Kelso Racecourse
• Hamilton Park Racecourse
• Musselburgh Racecourse
• The Racing Centre, Newmarket

 

Friday 15 May will see a number of exciting projects take place, including the BHA’s contingent travelling to Greatwood to assist with a day at the racehorse charity and the construction of a new polytunnel.

Carole Goldsmith, Director of People and Development at the BHA, said:

“The BHA, as the co-ordinator of Racing Together, is committed to supporting causes that demonstrate the sport’s outreach in the community. I’m delighted to be taking a team to Greatwood and hopefully we’ll provide some added elbow grease to the worthy projects ongoing at Rainscombe Hill Farm.”

Musselburgh Racecourse has worked alongside Scottish Business in the Community to transform the garden of the nearby Olivebank Day Centre. Over 20 volunteers from the racecourse have committed to this day alongside former BHA Board member, Morag Gray.

In addition, neighbours Ascot Racecourse and the RCA will be collaborating to offer a joint project in the Berkshire area, whilst Hamilton Park Racecourse and Aintree Racecourse will be combining their race meetings with an activity. The Racing Centre in Newmarket is opening the doors to the ‘Racefit’ gymnasium, with free sessions with the personal training team plus a Q&A on health and nutrition.

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said:

“Give & Gain Day is an annual opportunity to both celebrate the hundreds of companies that volunteer all year round and challenge business to do even more to make volunteering a normal part of how they do business. By genuinely encouraging and enabling staff to volunteer, business sends a clear message that it values responsible behaviour and takes its contract with society seriously.”

There is still time to register your interest with Give & Gain Day. If you have a team and a project in your local area, please contact Paul Swain to join the Racing Together participation in Give & Gain Day 2015.

 

 

Notes to editors:

1. Racing Together is the collective community engagement banner of British Racing, based within the BHA. Its work is centred around four pillars:

• Helping Others –  Providing a ‘Centre of Excellence’ to support the aggregate of Racing Together
• Racing – Looking after the people and horses who are British Racing
• Education Outreach – Improving education and developing future champions
• Local Life – Bringing together communities

For more information on Racing Together visit or contact Paul Swain.