Unibet announce #GoRacingGreen partnership to support mental health at Newbury on Saturday

Kindred, through its Unibet brand, has today announced an investment in #GoRacingGreen, the project run by Debbie Matthews that aims to make racing accessible to those who suffer from mental health problems.

The investment in the pilot scheme with #GoRacingGreen will see the online gambling platform partner with Matthews’ project at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 17 August for Unibet Hungerford Day. The  announcement comes following the news in April that Kindred – through its 32Red brand – were launching a new model of sport sponsorship that benefits both sport and communities.

What to look out for at Newbury

As part of the #GoRacingGreen initiative, racegoers to Newbury on Saturday will have access to a Quiet Zone. This week, permanent staff at the racecourse have become ‘Dementia Friends’, and received training on #GoRacingGreen from founder Debbie Matthews. The training session is designed to help staff to identify and assist any racegoers experiencing social anxiety. The dedicated #GoRacingGreen Quiet Zone has been created behind the paddock which will be an alcohol-free area.

Racegoers are encouraged to wear something green on Saturday, such as one of the official #GoRacingGreen ribbons, to signify they are happy for someone to approach and talk to them, or to raise awareness to those around them that they might be feeling anxious.

After Saturday’s fixture, Debbie will be working with the racecourse on an invisible accessibility guide and sensory guide, plus identifying and recommending practical improvements, and training for more of their staff.

About the partnership

Kindred’s investment into a pilot scheme #GoRacingGreen will see Matthews take the project to more racecourses and gives a boost to the great success it has already achieved. Since launching #GoRacingGreen in January 2019, Matthews has received thousands of messages from racegoers and Kindred’s investment will now see the project grow further.

The Unibet and #GoRacingGreen partnership includes:

• Investing in the GoRacingGreen project for a pilot scheme
• Unibet has committed to all future sponsorships with racecourses now including #GoRacingGreen as a core part of an agreement.
• Securing a dedicated space at the Newbury course for #GoRacingGreen to operate
• Donating 1 in 3 Unibet adverts – both digital and physical – on   Saturday 17 August during Unibet Hungerford Day to #GoRacingGreen

Ed Nicholson, Head of Racing Communications & Sponsorship at Kindred Group, said: “The investment we are announcing today means GoRacingGreen can continue to build on their fantastic work since they started the project earlier this year. Having attended the training session undertaken at Newbury earlier in the week, I saw at first-hand what a fantastic scheme this is. Our partnership with GoRacingGreen shows a new  model for sport sponsorship is possible. Kindred is leading the way in becoming a sponsor for a sport and its communities and we are looking forward to piloting the project at Newbury this Saturday.”

Debbie Matthews, Founder of #GoRacingGreen, said “This investment is a fantastic boost for the #GoRacingGreen project, and I am delighted to be working with Kindred through its Unibet brand. Working in partnership with them, we can now expand the programme and reach many more people with mental health problems across the racing community in the months ahead.”

Harriet Collins, Marcomms and Sponsorship Director at Newbury Racecourse added: “We are delighted to be working with both Unibet and Debbie Matthews on this initiative. Members of our permanent staff have undergone training with Debbie and we have plans to keep increasing this number over the course of the year. We have created a dedicated #GoRacingGreen Quiet Zone this Saturday for those looking for a safe space   away from the crowds and hope it will be well received.”

To find out more contact Debbie Matthews: debbie@novicefilly.co.uk or visit https://goracinggreen.co.uk/