Annual Review and Outlook 2019
nature groups, archaeologists, cyclists, model aircraft flyers and dog walkers. The racecourse is a popular venue for many of the town’s events including the annual bonfire night, Thai festival and now the town’s half marathon. The racecourse is a corporate member of local groups including the Rotary Club and Lions Club and works closely with the Sea Scouts, involving them in raceday activities. It is also an active member of the Economic and Tourism Committee and the local Chamber of Trade. The racecourse is championing the town’s drive to go ‘Plastic Free’ having already achieved this accreditation for itself. Aintree Racecourse provides another example where we are proud of our links with the community. The Randox Health Grand National is considered by many as ‘The People’s Race’ and The Jockey Club team at Aintree take every opportunity to engage with and give back to the people of Liverpool who support the three-day Grand National Festival. Community engagement is at the heart of everything the racecourse does and in 2014 the racecourse set up the Aintree Community Programme focusing since on three themes: Health and Wellbeing, Community Engagement and Education and Enterprise. As a result, we have forged strong partnerships at
Aintree with some inspiring organisations, such as Everton in the Community, which is recognised as one of the most respected and impactful programmes in sport. Other partnerships with the local community include those with Riding for Disabled and Grand National Dementia Tours, local schools and community centres and The Barrie Wells Trust. There is also a special bond between Aintree and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, with activities and visits throughout the year, notably a special trip to the wards by jockeys and even retired racehorses the day before the Randox Health Grand National. Another example at Aintree partnership with Liverpool Veterans’ HQ. Over the past year, 26 military veterans from the local area have participated in a monthly session where they have received support for specific mental and physical difficulties. Sessions have included golf lessons at the Aintree Golf Centre, Grand National fence tours, cookery classes and the opportunity to cycle with British Cycling. We wish to extend this further, with a view to providing paid work at some of our other racecourses. A far greater spotlight is now being shone on mental health and wellbeing in our society. Nottingham has become the first racecourse in Britain to officially link-up with is our Military Veterans Programme, created in
#GoRacingGreen, which is an initiative designed to improve the raceday experience for people with ‘hidden’ disabilities, including social anxiety. The initiative is the brainchild of Debbie Matthews, a racing fan who has written blogs on mental health and her own struggles with anxiety. Our team at Nottingham Racecourse has worked with Debbie to create a #GoRacingGreen room at the majority of our racedays at Colwick Park. This is a quiet space with tables, chairs and screens to view the racing away from the buzz of the wider day unfolding elsewhere. THE JOCKEY CLUB AND CHARITIES In 2016, we reviewed our charity strategy. Having historically responded on an adhoc basis to charitable requests, it was decided to implement a Jockey Club allowed us to build a Group- wide relationship with two charities on a rolling two-year programme, augmenting the permanent partnership with our own charity, Racing Welfare. One of these charities is Rainbow Trust, which supports families who have a child with a life- threatening or terminal illness. The other is Carers Trust, an organisation which works to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, Official Charity Partner programme. This has
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