THE CHARITY INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS
Racing to School (reg no.1040590) is an education charity that aims to inspire young minds through the provision of free, interactive, and healthy outdoor educational events for schools, staged at a variety of racing venues.
We achieved another record year in 2025, delivering 471 events across the country and engaging a diverse group of over 17,500 young people. We are very grateful for all our existing and new partnerships, which have enabled us to grow our participation year on year. With a busy programme of educational activities this year, we are aiming to at least match last year’s level of engagement with young people from all backgrounds across Britain.
The charity works with young people with special educational needs and over one third of our output is targeted to engage those from inner city, rural and deprived areas. Our staff has a range of industry backgrounds including former jockeys who have retrained to develop their second careers, and their experience is invaluable as the charity introduces horseracing as an accessible sport to young people.
Schools’ Programme
Our Schools’ Programme engages young people at racing-related venues. Each young person is given a workbook that focuses on numeracy and literacy and contains a range of resources that supports the delivery of interactive and outdoor learning. The pupils and teachers are encouraged to continue working with the racing-themed books back in school.
For secondary school pupils, we also offer to support schools in their careers education provision by raising awareness of the career opportunities racing has to offer. This work engages a range of practitioners to give insight and advice to young people.
Riders’ Programme
Launched in 2016, the Riders’ Programme encourages young people who already ride and/or have an interest in another equine discipline to consider racing and thoroughbred breeding as a possible career route or leisure activity. The charity works with equine colleges and universities to offer a unique insight into the horseracing industry.
Within this Programme sits the Pathway into Racing through Pony Racing Project, which offers a formal pathway into the horseracing industry for young people through pony racing, no matter what their background. We offer Horse and Pony Racing Taster Sessions and Careers Days at the Races as part this collaborative programme with the Pony Racing Authority, Pony Club and the BHA’s Careers in Racing team.
Beacon Projects
Racing to School also delivers two Beacon Projects, which focus on engaging schools in racing areas with a bespoke programme of learning activity.
Aintree Beacon Project
The Aintree Beacon, launched in 2015, is an annual programme of bespoke activity in Merseyside and the borough of Sefton, run in collaboration with Aintree Racecourse and Equestrian Centre. The programme aims to engage the local community through learning and development, delivering a series of fun and unique educational activities on and off the racecourse which use the context of racing to encourage active learning.
Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project
The Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project (NAGBP) was launched in September 2016 as part of a shared vision between Newmarket’s largest employer, Godolphin and the town’s only Secondary School to support and enrich the lives of young people in the local community.
Community Engagement – Racing Together
Racing to School leads the Racing Together partnership, which represents the wide variety of community engagement work undertaken by racing and youth charities, and commercial organisations whose work benefits others.
