SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Racing Homes, Racing Welfare’s housing association, has commissioned Cambridge University’s Centre for Housing and Planning Research (CCHPR) to conduct a national housing needs survey. The aim of the research is to identify the levels of welfare-driven housing requirements currently being experienced within the racing industry.
It has been long-acknowledged that the lack of good quality affordable housing is a major concern for the racing industry. A review undertaken by the BHA in 2013 identified that housing persists as a key issue for the industry with 69% of respondents highlighting that the lack of affordable housing was a major welfare issue for staff. These findings are reflected in Racing Welfare’s day to day work, with housing being the number one presenting issue across the country.
Racing Homes’ Head of Housing, Keith Bovill, explains:
“Since the Donoghue Report in 2004 Racing Welfare has delivered an additional 36 units of accommodation for racing staff including young person’s schemes in Lambourn, Middleham and Malton. The results of this National Housing Needs Survey will be of great importance, not only in informing our own internal housing strategy, but also serving as a tool to open up meaningful dialogue in how best to address this wider racing-industry issue. We want to encourage as many current and former racing staff, from across the country, to participate in completing the online survey.”
The majority of the funding for this research project is being provided by The Racing Foundation and the project has encouraged wide spread involvement and support from key industry stakeholders.
The survey can be completed online by following this link: – http://cambridge.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9MsmVOfOIeiDckB
