Racing is a glamorous sport, fast and furious, a feast of glorious colour where courage is all and there is no place for the fearful. In the winners enclosure there are tears of joy, congratulations abound. However, winner or loser,when the cameras stop rolling, there is an unseen army of workers, and it is the work that they do behind the scenes that is so vital to the racing industry. With out them racing would struggle to survive. Their contribution is essential, yet it is these people and their dependents who have the least resources to call upon.The mission of Racing Welfare is to take care of those in need across the racing industry from stable and stud staff to trainers, jockeys, ground staff racecourse employees, heath men, farriers and stalls handlers, on whose efforts the horses depend. The money that we raise through events, provide essential funds to support some of the new projects in progress to provide support for all of racing’s workforce from the beginning of their careers through to retirement. These initiatives include affordable housing, mentoring schemes for supporting the young starting their first jobs and financial help. The Racing Welfare charity has its own stock of one hundred homes for working and retired staff, including some with nursing care on site. Racing Welfare also runs successful programs of holidays for the disabled, the elderly and their careers to relax and gain relief from both their physical discomforts and the stress this can cause. Their partnership with the Samaritans helps alleviate some of the problems of loneliness and the feeling of isolation which can be experienced by young people working away from home and family and retired racing people from all parts of the industry who are adjusting to changed circumstances. In 2006 we helped hundreds of people with all sorts of different problems. In 2007 with your support and all our other regular contributors we can make an even bigger difference to the life's of the people behind the scenes. The people who when the cameras stop rolling, are the unseen army of workers who's work is so vital to the racing industry, without them racing would struggle to survive. Once again with out their contribution and efforts you would have no racing. So please support them. .If you have a story of how Racing Welfare has helped you or a member of your family or a friend, why not write it down and and email it in. Include some pictures if you have any and see it in print, It might even encourage someone to donate.
