'It's a life, rather than a job' - Dawn Goodfellow to leave Racing Welfare after 11 years and having tripled charity's reach

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Dawn Goodfellow is to step down as chief executive of Racing Welfare and stressed she has "loved every minute" of her 11 years in the role.

She joined the charity, which supports people involved in British racing, in 2015. Since then it has increased the number of people it helps each year from about 800 to 2,500.

It has extended the services it offers to include a dedicated 24-hour help phone line, while an improved fundraising programme ensures that £3.5 million a year is found to support beneficiaries.

Goodfellow, 63, had previously been CEO of the Northern Racing College and also helped create what is now Racing to School.

She said: "As someone who has loved horseracing since childhood, spent my whole working life involved in the sport in one way or another and seen all three of my children work in racing, it has been an enormous privilege and an honour to lead Racing Welfare for more than a decade. 

"I've done 11 years and running any charity is quite hard work. We've probably got the best senior management team Racing Welfare has ever had, so it will be in great hands. I'm very proud of them. Following our recent governance review, and after much consideration, I believe this is the right time to hand over to a new chief executive to lead Racing Welfare into its next chapter.

"I've loved every minute of it and I'll miss it a lot, but equally I'd like a bit of time with my family. It's very full on. It's a life, rather than a job."

Looking to the future, she said: "I'm not going to retire completely. I'm going to see if I can get a couple of executive directorships and, if there are any projects that interest me where I can add value, I'll look at those. But it will be part-time rather than full-time."

Dawn Goodfellow with husband Mike in training for Racing Welfare Come Dancing last yearCredit: Louise Pollard

Paying tribute, chair Nick Bannister said: “Racing Welfare and the thousands of people who have been helped and supported in the last 11 years owe Dawn a great amount of gratitude. She has worked tirelessly to help us fulfil our mission and help establish the charity as a force for good within the racing community.

“As the charity now looks towards the future, we are grateful for Dawn's contribution and for her foresight in deciding that the new direction requires a new leader driving this change. All of us here wish Dawn every success and happiness in the future.”

Goodfellow will continue in her role until November 30 and Racing Welfare will now begin the process of recruiting a chief executive.

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