Fakenham Racecourse reaches out to its neighbours

This year Fakenham Racecourse has enriched its local community in a variety of ways, as Chief Executive David Hunter explains: “We believe that what is good for Fakenham Racecourse, must also be good for Fakenham town and its community.”

Ringing the changes

The Get Well Bell Project set its sights on raising funds for Fakenham Junior School’s Bell Tower, which is part of the original building dating back to 1913. Fakenham Racecourse donated £1,500 directly to the fund. The course also gave away race badges free of charge, which raised a further £1,000 towards the total, and encouraged 60 parents and their children to attend their local track.

Long-term partner

Vulnerable adults were also beneficiaries of Fakenham’s strategy this year. The Fitzroy Sensory Garden Project offers a safe space and the opportunity to socialise to vulnerable adults that may need support with their communication and development skills. The team’s role was to provide the man and woman power, and equipment to help the necessary clearance of the entire area. The course also made a substantial donation, matching that of Tesco’s £2,000. The Project is regarded as a long-term partner.

A team effort to inspire good habits

A 10-strong group of racecourse staff were joined by three racecourse directors, including the Chairman; plus the Fakenham Town Mayor and two councillors to take part in a Staff Litter Picking Day. Leading from the front, David Hunter prepared the day by earmarking the most littered areas and allocated his troops with bin bags and litter pickers for a full day’s clean-up. At the weigh-in, no less than 60 bags of rubbish had been collected and handed over to the Fakenham Recycling Centre. The efforts of the group triggered conversations with the local community about making this an annual event to raise awareness about littering, and to consider effective prevention through education.

Local charity welcomed back by racecourse

Fakenham used their October meeting as a fundraiser for local charity Tapping House that provides palliative care to adults. Over 250 people were given racing badges free of charge with the charity also benefiting from course facilities. Fakenham has supported the charity for the three years, with funds raised this year totalling £57,000.