A busy time for Ascot’s charity and community work
During Sunday’s fixture, Ascot will welcome Emma Cantrell, the Founder and Trustee of children’s charity First Days, marking their collaboration by naming the 3.55pm race: “The First Days Charity Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase”.
First Days was established in 2013 to help the 43,000 children identified as living in poverty in Berkshire. Working in conjunction with professionals in the health, childcare and social care fields, First Days redistributes donated second-hand toys, clothes, equipment and school uniforms to children in Berkshire and beyond whose families cannot afford the basics.
Since it was started six years ago, First Days has helped over 7,000 children and currently receives in excess of 100 referrals each month.
With Ascot Racecourse’s support, the charity will be offering a ‘one stop shop’ at Penn Road Children’s Centre in Slough to combine these donations with additional services to help and signpost parents struggling financially.
Supporting budding young artists with their perspectives of Royal Ascot
Ascot is also launching the second year of “A Celebration of Royal Ascot” Schools Art Competition.
Following the success of last year’s event, local schools have once again been invited to submit entries with an opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the Ascot Heath Tunnel, providing a colourful walkway for both Royal Ascot visitors and local residents.
Pupils aged between 4-14 years old across 15 local schools were asked to submit artwork to be in with a chance of winning cash prizes of £1,000 for their school, as well as Amazon vouchers to spend for themselves.
On Sunday, the short-listed entries will be displayed in the Wildlife Zone in the Exhibition Hall.
View and vote on your favourites online here:
https://www.ascot.co.uk/artcompvotes.
Ascot staff will also cast their votes and leading Flat jockey, Ryan Moore, has also been asked to pick his favourite.
The winners and runners-up will be announced at the beginning of May, with cheque presentations taking place on Ascot’s Victoria Cup Raceday on Saturday, 11th May 2019.