Health pilot granted two-year funding extension

A scheme set up to deliver health and wellbeing advice to stable staff in Newmarket has received a two-year funding extension from the Racing Foundation.

For the past 12 months the Racefit occupational health pilot has reached around 400 racing staff from its base at the Racing Centre on Fred Archer Way.

Programmes include interactive tackroom talks and occupational health clinics delivered by Pippa Stanford, a specialist occupational health nurse.

BHA welfare development manager Matt Mancini said: "Ultimately, the provision of comprehensive occupational health and welfare support to racing's people has multiple benefits for all concerned, particularly employers and their staff.

"In the long term this can help reduce turnover and industry costs related to recruitment and training of new employees by encouraging staff retention.

"As an industry, British horseracing should aim to provide a world-class benefits package to a world-class workforce. This service development has proven to be a positive step towards achieving that goal."

Aiming to go nationwide

There are plans to roll out similar schemes around other training centres and the pilot will continue to support welfare services offered by Racing Welfare and the Injured Jockeys Fund, which include the recent release of the 24/7 support line.

The Racing Foundation's chief executive Rob Hezel said: "We are delighted with the progress and results being achieved by the occupational health pilot as well as the interest and support it has generated with trainers and their staff in Newmarket.

"The health and welfare of racing's staff is of great importance to the industry and the trustees of the Racing Foundation are happy to extend funding for the pilot by a further two years to ensure development and sustainability of the programmes.

"It is important that stud and stable staff across the country have access to similar support and the trustees are delighted to pledge further funding to ensure the findings from the Newmarket pilot are used to investigate and implement the delivery of services at other racing centres across the UK."