York Racecourse Seek to find New Local Charity Partners

York Racecourse is once again inviting applications for two local charities or community groups to join the York Racecourse Local Community Partnership Scheme. Each will receive a one-off cash donation, in addition to a variety of benefits.

This recent initiative sees the Racecourse team adopting a focused approach to their local community charities and community groups. Highlights of this past year included job fairs held in partnership with Collective Sharehouse York and food bank collections.

York’s relationship with Clifton Green Primary School is coming into it's third year of the partnership and will continue to grow. In the past few year's a bug hotel and science garden have been completed by both teams, as well as York Racecourse's Equine Ambassador, "Remy", has visited the school on many occasions.

The 2026 chosen partners will be guaranteed £1,000 in cash each, moreover they will be assured of a “bucket collection” at York Racecourse, the opportunity to stage a fundraising event at a discounted rate, as well as the Racecourse team offering practical help to what are expected to be smaller operations. This could be advice on raising their profile, digital and social media activity or even guidance on matters such as health and safety. The services of Remy, the Racecourse’s equine ambassador, will also be offered to provide those “surprise and delight” moments.

This approach will sit alongside the already six-figure support provided to local charities, schools and other community organisations by way of raffle prizes that assist in their fundraising activities.

It will also complement the Sky Bet Ebor Community Sweepstake, a scheme that aligns good causes across York and the wider county with the Sky Bet Ebor, providing a five figure grant for first place, to specific projects.

In addition, since 1971, York Racecourse has been proud to support Macmillan’s single biggest fundraising event, Macmillan Charity Raceday, which continues to be the centre piece of York Racecourse’s charitable activity. This year the 55th Macmillan Charity Raceday will be on Saturday 13 June 2026. So far, York has raised over £11.5 million for Macmillan. York Racecourse also has charitable partnerships with racing charities, including Racing Welfare who look after racing’s workforce and New Beginnings, a retraining and rehoming of racehorses charity local to York.

Phil Atkinson, who takes the lead on these projects for York Racecourse said, ‘York Racecourse is proud to have an extensive charity and local community programme which has generated vital funds for Macmillan, our racing charitable partners and our local community over many years. We are delighted to extend this programme for 2026 and look forward to selecting York Racecourse Local Community Partners who we can support in a more focused and targeted way during the year ahead. Hopefully we have the ability to make a big difference to these organisations over a year.’

Please click here for the application form. Applications close Friday 27 February.