The Armed Forces announced as the official charities for Royal Ascot 2021

In previous years, the charities (Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund) have been promoted on the Friday of Royal Ascot, with over £20,000 raised on the day from bucket collections. This year, Ascot Racecourse has announced that the three principal single Service Armed Forces charities, will be their official charity partners for Royal meeting. This will give the charities an extended presence over the five-day meeting helping them raise the much-needed funds at a time when all have been impacted by COVID-19. 

Ascot is committed to raising awareness of this work by promoting personal stories of servicemen and women through the racecard, digital content and more. 

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs said: “We are delighted to confirm this charity partnership with the Armed Forces charities for Royal Ascot this year.

“Typically, racegoers really engage with the three charities on the Friday and it will be fantastic to see some of the military personnel and volunteers back on site through the week.

“Having been unable to welcome them last year due to the pandemic, we are really pleased to extend our relationship across all five days and look forward to helping them raise much needed funds and awareness of the work they do.”

The racecourse will be making a donation from the sale of certain food and drink, as well as giving 1% of concessionaires on the Friday of Royal Ascot. In addition, they will be giving a donation from the sale of their Royal Ascot Hampers, with £5 from each two-person hamper and £10 from each six-person hamper being donated. 

Brigadier Peter Walker OBE, Chairman of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in Berkshire, said: “The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund are delighted to be the official nominated charity partners for Royal Ascot 2021.

“The three charities have been working with Ascot Racecourse at Royal Ascot since 2013 and it is with great pleasure that we are able to continue and strengthen our relationship this year.

“The members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF who will be at Royal Ascot are very much looking forward to the event, and the three charities would like to thank everyone involved for their support which helps to assist Armed Forces personnel, both past and present, in times of need.”