30th March 2020 – A number of leading industry partners and community organisations have teamed up together to ensure Newmarket’s vulnerable residents have access to vital support during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Leading figures from West Suffolk Council, Newmarket Town Council, Godolphin, Tesco, the Newmarket Festival and Discover Newmarket have begun work with The Jockey Club, comprising Newmarket Racecourses, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates and its charity Racing Welfare, to combine resources and ensure those most in need are reached.
Racing has been suspended until at least the end of April and with non-essential businesses, restaurants and pubs now closed indefinitely, a number of Newmarket residents have found themselves in a vulnerable position or are at risk of becoming vulnerable in the coming weeks.
Following conference calls last week, mechanisms have been put in place to ensure vulnerable individuals can access the essential supplies they need, including deliveries of food from Tesco carried out by volunteers from across the organisations. Discover Newmarket’s fleet of tour busses will be used to make such deliveries.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the community, this group will work to ensure resources are directed most effectively, making use of new and existing mechanisms. Vulnerable people should call Newmarket Town Council’s helpline on 01638 667227, where the best possible solution to their problem will be found and actioned.
Amy Starkey, Regional Director of The Jockey Club’s East Region, said: “Everybody in our community has been affected in some way by the COVID-19 outbreak but there are those for whom the coming weeks and months are going to prove extremely difficult.
“All of us at The Jockey Club take our responsibility to our community very seriously and it has been incredibly heartening to see my colleagues joining together with our partners across Newmarket to find the most effective ways to help.”
Rachel Hood, Mayor of Newmarket, added: “There has always been a wonderful sense of community in Newmarket, a town that brings people together not only from across our own country but from all corners of the world.
“I am delighted to see that during these testing times, Newmarket Town Council and West Suffolk Council are working collaboratively with our town’s key industries and employers to ensure those least fortunate among us are not forgotten as we face up to our temporary new reality.
“We are all incredibly grateful to our industry partners and community organisations who have worked tirelessly to set-up this much needed support of those that require it within our community.”
