'Racing Home', an initiative run by Women in Racing (WiR) and partnered by Kindred Group and the Racing Foundation, had a media launch at Unibet-sponsored Kempton Park racecourse, where they presented their new platform together with an expert panel. Racing Home educates and empowers racing employees, employers and self-employed people on motherhood and parenthood. Kindred has been involved with the project since the early research days, providing much-needed funds and expertise to ensure the initial research was undertaken and the portal could be delivered.
Ed Nicholson, Head of Kindred Group Racing, represented Kindred on the panel. Ed has worked alongside Women in Racing since Kindred started phase two of the project last year. He took the opportunity when on the panel to talk about why it was important for Kindred to partner with the project and how much is linked to Kindred's DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and set of initiatives; giving examples of Kindred's employee networks namely; Disability and Neurodiversity, Every kind: The Cultural Diversity Network, LGBTQIA+, and of course Womenkind. Ed also spoke of Kindred's leading role in the space, having been a founding member of the important All-Diversity Project back in 2018.
Alongside Ed Nicholson on the panel was Aly Vance, a well-known sports broadcaster who works for CNN covering horse racing and has two young children. She spoke about her recent experiences working on an international broadcasting stage and the difficulties she has experienced since coming back to work with two young children.
Others in the panel were Gemma Ospedale, a partner at legal firm RWK Goodman and an expert in the employment and HR law around maternity/paternity and shared parental leave. Dominique Tortice works for NARS (National Association of Racing Staff), and she took 'Racing Home' into the hustle and bustle of the real world of racing stables. Dominique had been trying to ensure employees and employers are aware of the free help, which can offer advice regarding parenthood and racing via the portal.
In addition, Lucy Gurney, Chair of Women in Racing (WiR), was interviewed for an especially edited piece for Kindred.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7wyK6LYOjA
Women in racing are a network of professionals working across the sport of horse racing who aim to enhance the profile and development of women, introduce more women into racing and enrich the sport,
The 'Racing Home' programme covers an online portal to educate and empower all stakeholders within the horseracing industry, as well as a Pilot programme which will deliver guidance for mothers returning to riding post-pregnancy. Participants of the programme will work with specialist rehabilitation physios and be offered free physical , phsycological and emotional support. The 'Racing Home' programme is also debuting a series of insightful podcasts hosted by equine vet and podcast producer Naomi Meller and is hosted on Spotify and Apple Music.
Kindred Group is extremely proud to be part of the development of the 'Racing Home' project. Working parents, in particular women, can face significant challenges, and it is a key priority at Kindred to support working parents through a supportive workplace, policies and benefits.
