THE PEOPLE'S RACE - SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
Through the power of horseracing and the Grand National, the Aintree Community Programme aims to inspire children and adults alike to be the best that they can be.
Overview
- Harnessing the affection and history of The People’s Race to support people in our local community.
- RCA Showcase & Awards – Best Community & CSR Programme 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.
The award winning community programme is underpinned by three key themes:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Community Engagement
- Education and Enterprise
Health and Wellbeing
The Health and Wellbeing programme aims to raise awareness and tackle the physical and mental health issues that affect our community. The programme works with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Everton in the Community, Barrie Wells Trust, Sunflowers Cancer Charity and several local schools.
Activities include:
- Grand National history tours for people with Dementia and other mental health related challenges.
- Grand National jockey visits and other activity with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
- Support for people with cancer related illnesses.
- Unique experiences for children and adults from local hospitals/hospices to enjoy our sport.
Community Engagement
The Community Engagement programme aims to showcase our sport with local people though the horse and the affection of the Grand National. The programme works with Liverpool FC Foundation, Park Palace Ponies, the Peter O’Sullevan Trust, Everton in the Community, local schools and Netherton Community Centre. The state of the art Peter O’Sullevan Community Hub was launched in December 2016 by Sir AP McCoy and is a focal point for all community programme related activity.
Activities include:
- Support and joint activity for children for Park Palace Ponies, an inner city riding school in Toxteth, Liverpool.
- Disabled Riding sessions in Aintree famous parade ring with children from Liverpool FC Foundation and supported by the Riding for Disabled Association.
- A variety of activity for young people in our community using the Peter O’Sullevan Community Hub as a base.
- Grand National fence and trophy tours for young people and military veterans in our community.
- Netherton Community Centre – continuous maintenance and groundsmen work for the centre.
Our community representatives
“Everton FC and Aintree have been working together for many years collaborating on a number respected and well received projects. Our partnership with Aintree is one of the highlights of Everton in the Community - it opens up horseracing to people who may never have thought about it or had the opportunity to be involved in. Much more to come in this space.”
Richard Kenyon, Director of Community, Marketing and Communications, Everton FC.
“Challenge Merseyside was the first of its kind in the North West. The 98 kids that attended were offered a variety of challenges, all very different, which worked brilliantly. The aim of Challenge Merseyside was to broaden the horizons of children across Merseyside -I believe that was achieved. I’m extremely grateful to Aintree for tacking the reigns and leading with the Royal Marines. Their community programme is a huge inspiration - I was delighted to be able to work with them to ensure we had so many fantastic partners on board to give aspirations to children who’ve grown up in difficult circumstances.”
Lt Col Matt Churchwood, Royal Marines.
“The support from Aintree Racecourse will make a huge difference to Park Palace Ponies and more importantly, the children from our community, many of whom have never seen a horse or left the city. Regular days at Aintree will be inspiring for the children and the offer of tickets will be an icing on the cake for most. As a very small and underfunded inner city riding school, any funding is gratefully received and I’m sure."
Keith Hackett, Park Palace Ponies.
Education and Enterprise
- Aintree has been the Racing Together Beacon Racecourse for four years and due to the success, it has received further funding from The Racing Foundation.
- Working with Racing to School, Maricourt School and its nearby Primary Schools has been a real highlight and continues to thrive.
- An important programme which has educated and hopefully inspired several thousand young people in our community through horseracing and the Grand National in recent years.
- Liverpool John Moores – working with several departments to devise and deliver inspiring Grand National related projects for students such as fashion communications, history, fashion design, sports science and events.
- Aintree works with several local schools on a variety of other projects:
- An annual Equine Art competition with life-sized perspex horses for Aintree’s Community Day.
- In association with The Peter O’Sullevan Trust, Aintree works with Blessed Sacrament School on an Edible Playground project.
- Fashion design projects for Ladies Day with Holly Lodge School.
Aintree Racecourse
Community Programme
