Our role

If you need our help or you know someone who does, this is a brief introduction to, and summary of our services. Essentially, the IJF is there to give immediate advice and help, short or long term financial assistance, other forms of support and access to rehabilitation. We are there to help those in need and all actual or potential beneficiaries must recognise that whether or not we can help, and the extent of that help, will be at the discretion of the IJF acting in accordance with the Trust Deed, our Charitable Objects and those guidelines.

As a charity, we are monitored closely by both the Charity Commission and the Financial Conduct Authority and our independent Board of Trustees take their governance responsibilities extremely seriously.

How we help

In some cases, there will be a need for immediate action. For example we may be able to:

• provide immediate financial assistance for things such as temporary accommodation, travel expenses, regular bills, hospital transfers, after a jockey is injured
• offer support when liaising with medical professionals
• give advice on how best to handle media enquiries
• share our experiences and give advice on best Fundraising options
• provide immediate and timely pastoral support in the long as well as the short term

In other cases, the beneficiary’s needs may be longer lasting or may not have resulted from a recent injury (‘injury’ including mental as well as physical illness). Here we can:

• pay regular grants to support those needs
• provide one-off grants for a specific need
• provide rehabilitation services and guidance including physiotherapy and hydrotherapy and sports psychology most commonly offered at our own Rehabilitation Centres, Oaksey House in Lambourn, Jack Berry House in Malton and Peter O’Sullevan House in Newmarket
• arrange regular home visits by respected friends of the IJF
• offer supervised race days and holidays both in the UK and abroad
• provide advice about, and liaise with other supporting agencies

Who qualifies?

Anyone who has held a racing licence issued by the BHA (and its predecessors) qualifies, as does any spouse, partner, child or dependant.

As has already been indicated, our help is not only available in respect of a particular or recent injury. That may be the more obvious examples of when we are needed but, since almost every jockey has had an injury at some stage and most have partners or dependants, the reality is that we are able to help a wide range of beneficiaries with a wide variety of needs.

How you get in touch

We have a Liaison Team who will usually be the first point of contact. To arrange please contact Head Office 01638 662246.

How decisions are taken

In the first instance, particularly in urgent cases, decisions will be taken by the Chief Executive. Usually, a request for such help will be made on the beneficiary’s behalf by a member of the Liaison Team. In other cases, especially above certain financial levels, the request will be presented to and considered by the Cases Committee of the Trustees.

What we need

We require all beneficiaries, without exception, to give full and frank disclosure of their financial circumstances. This will enable an almoner to prepare an Income and Expenditure Report without which no request for assistance will be granted save in very exceptional circumstances (such as great urgency).

Actual or potential beneficiaries must also be prepared to tell their almoners (if they have one) or otherwise Head Office if their circumstances change.

What we cannot do

The Trustees have established guidelines on the basic of which they exercise their absolute discretion as to whether (and if so, in what form) support can be given. For example, save in exceptional circumstances, we will not:

• offer loans or (as we could in the past) provide index-linked mortgages. Further reading:

Index Linked Mortgages
ILM Awards

• provide financial or legal advice
• become involved in litigation
• do anything which has the effect of directly or indirectly supporting a training operation
• pay for medical procedures when the beneficiary ought ordinarily be looking to the NHS
• undertake long term responsibility for the funding of Social care where the individual is entitled to statutory benefits (though, in certain circumstances, we may be able to provide a modest supplement in respect of such statutory provision)
• support someone who is the author of his or her own misfortune
• offer support when there is no obvious “need” and/or where the beneficiary can reasonably expect support from other sources (such as family or employer)

What we never do

We never share any of your information with others unless your permission has been expressly given. You may, however, be expected to give full disclosure to us of (for example) your medical and employment history and must recognise that, if an application for support is to pursued, that information may have to be shared with those who have a legitimate interest in and need to have that information (most obviously, the Trustees on the Cases Committee).