DAWN GOODFELLOW TO STEP DOWN AS RACING WELFARE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFTER 11 YEARS

Racing Welfare today announces that Chief Executive Dawn Goodfellow is to step down after leading the charity for 11 years.

Dawn joined Racing Welfare in 2015 from the Northern Racing College, where she had been CEO for eight years. Prior to that she had been CEO of two other educational charities and helped create what is now Racing to School, helping thousands of young people across the UK to experience horseracing for the first time.

During her time as CEO of Racing Welfare the organisation has increased the number of individuals helped each year from around 800 to 2,500 and extended the range of services and support offered to all those working in racing. This includes the introduction of a dedicated 24-hour help phone line and an improved fundraising programme to ensure that £3.5million a year can continue to support beneficiaries nationwide, with Dawn being at the heart of that fundraising effort throughout.

Explaining her decision to step down, Dawn Goodfellow 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 am now looking to build a portfolio of non-executive directorships and projects, which will allow me to achieve a better balance between my work and my desire to support my family.

“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 leave proud of all that Racing Welfare has achieved in my time here and pleased that the future for this vital charity has been thought through in such a detailed and considered way. It feels right that someone else is responsible for Racing Welfare’s next chapter and I wish the charity and its hugely passionate and dedicated team nothing but the best for the future.”

Nick Bannister, Chair of Racing Welfare, added: “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.”

Dawn will continue in her role until November 30th 2026, while Racing Welfare will now begin the process to recruit a new Chief Executive.