New residential facilities at Northern Racing College
The Northern Racing College is progressing plans to develop residential facilities over the next five years, that will enable them to meet the demand for their currently over-subscribed Stable Staff Foundation courses. The planned development will also enable the College to extend the range of residential courses that they are able to offer to the northern racing community.
The development will be carried out in two phases:
- Phase 1. Extension of the kitchens and dining facilities, not only to accommodate the increased number of students, but also to allow more students to undertake the popular “Life Skills” evening course that is so important for young stable staff, many of whom will be placed in racing yards upon leaving the College and be living away from home for the first time. The students learn basic cooking skills and nutrition, as well as many other very useful subjects like fitness and finances.
- Phase 2. A new residential block, consisting of 20 en-suite single rooms, will accommodate an increased number of students on the Stable Staff Foundation courses, as well as other residential racing industry courses.
Much fundraising is necessary and the Northern Racing College is joining forces with the Injured Jockeys Fund in organising the Leger Legends Race at Doncaster Racecourse on the first day of the 2010 St Leger Festival, to raise funds for this project and a residential and rehabilitation centre for jockeys in the north. There are also other fundraising projects afoot, including the NRC’s annual charity raceday at Pontefract Park on the 28th April 2010.
Funds permitting, it is planned that dining facilities element of the development will be completed by mid 2012, and the new residential block within five years.
In the interim, the new owner of Rossington Hall will be leasing a refurbished building that was part of the old Rossington Hall School, to the College to accommodate older students on the Stable Staff Foundation courses.
A Wall of Fame in the new developments will feature the names of all those who contribute towards the project.
