Royal Ascot’s charity and community impact

Royal Ascot once again provided a perfect platform for supporting their surrounding community, promoting several charitable initiatives via the Royal Meeting.

Activities included the Royal Ascot Art Schools Competition and surplus food being donated to City Harvest, London, as well as a charity lunch and the leftover flowers going to the horticultural group Little Muddy Boots.

A bumper donation of £277,000 from members of the Betting and Gaming Council, via the Britannia Stakes, was split between SportsAid, the Holocaust Educational Trust, Cystic Fibrosis Trusts, SAS Regimental Association, Ascot Racecourse Supports and Together For Looked After Children. Also on the track, around 200 children from eight local schools attended both the Tuesday and Wednesday of the meeting, enjoying a dedicated picnic and viewing area on the Heath for the Royal Procession and the racing.

A particular highlight this year was the Royal Ascot Fashion Design Competition, supported for the first time in 2023 by LK Bennett. The winner this year was Iola Gilder, 15, from Garth Hill College in Bracknell. After choosing her design, Iola then travelled to London to choose the fabrics at LK Bennett to have her design brought to life by the famous design house and Official Sponsor at Ascot Racecourse.

She also worked with Sarah Marshall of John Boyd Hats to design a hat to go with the outfit. Since Iola’s visit to LK Bennett, she has also been invited for work experience to continue her path into the fashion industry.

Iola said: “Thank you Ascot Racecourse for the most amazing day! I had a wonderful time and am still on a high after what was a fantastic experience. I’m still so beyond happy that I got picked and it has truly been such a pleasure working with LK Bennett and John Boyd, something I never would have been able to do if it wasn’t for Royal Ascot, definitely an experience I will never forget.”

Jacqui Greet, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Ascot Racecourse, added: “We are thrilled that the Ascot Racecourse Supports programme was again so wide ranging and successful throughout Royal Ascot.

“It is hugely rewarding to be able to use the event to promote some very worthy charities and causes and also engage with the local community in various way throughout the week.

“We were particularly thrilled with the Royal Ascot Fashion Design Competition this year and delighted that it will have a lasting legacy with Iola set to undertake work experience with LK Bennett.”

For more details of Royal Ascot Supports… and the work they do please click here