RACING WELFARE SEEKS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER TO WORK WITH THOROUGHBRED STUD AND BREEDING COMMUNITY
Racing Welfare, the horseracing industry’s human welfare charity, is looking for someone with experience of the thoroughbred stud and breeding industry to drive forward an exciting community engagement programme for the sector.
The post of Community Engagement Officer at Racing Welfare will see the successful candidate working closely with the thoroughbred stud and breeding community to raise awareness of and promote Racing Welfare’s wellbeing support services to the sector.
Part of a three-year project made possible by funding from the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust, great strides have already been made in the first year of the project. Gerald Leigh was a prominent owner breeder of racehorses based at Eydon Hall Farm in Northamptonshire and the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust, which was established in 1974, makes regular donations to causes including the bloodstock industry, medical research and education.
Work already completed as part of the project includes the completion of the ‘Awareness of Racing Welfare In The Stud And Breeding Sector: Survey Report’ which gauges the current level of awareness of Racing Welfare services in the stud and breeding sector as well as determining the type of support required. The successful applicant will now get the opportunity to drive forward plans made as part of the work already undertaken.
Racing Welfare is successful in reaching out across the industry to provide support, but the stud and breeding sector is well behind the other sectors when it comes to utilising this support. Data shows that in 2022 the stud and breeding sector made up only 5.7% of the people supported by Racing Welfare. The post of Community Engagement Officer seeks to redress the imbalance.
Chloe Martin, Racing Welfare’s Head of Community Engagement, said: “This is a really exciting time to be joining the Racing Welfare team to help make a difference to the way the workforce of the thoroughbred stud and breeding industry accesses support. The work we have undertaken already has given us greater insight into the challenges this sector faces as well as recommendations on how to improve engagement and access.
“We’re looking for someone who is an all-round ‘people person’ to take this work forward. Someone who has experience of attending bloodstock sales and events and possesses the ability to network and maximise opportunities to engage with a variety of stakeholders.
“Experience of the thoroughbred stud and breeding sector and a passion for improving access to support services is essential for this role – so much so that we’re encouraging applications from those who feel they have the sector experience but may not meet all the requirements of the person specification, as training and support will be offered to the right person.”
Racing Welfare wants to ensure the perspectives of those working in the sector are included in the development of the charity’s services and community work, as well as increasing awareness of, and accessibility to, support. The Community Engagement Officer (Thoroughbred Stud & Breeding sector) role is a full-time position for a two-year fixed term period. For more information about the role, and to apply, please visit: https://racingwelfare.co.uk/work-for-racing-welfare/
The closing date for applications is Monday 17th June, 2024.
To understand more about the project work already undertaken, you can read ‘Awareness of Racing Welfare in the stud and breeding sector: survey report HERE.