Mr Alan Higgs

There are 4.6m young people in the UK living in poverty or with a disability. Through the continued expansion of our programmes we’re working towards reducing these numbers.

We are creating more opportunities than ever before for young people from deprived areas and those with disabilities to engage in sport and recreation in their local communities.

We measure our impact by the 'sporting chances' we create.

What is a sporting chance?

It’s the chance to interact, play and train
The chance to compete, win and lose
The chance to learn, have fun and make friends

Every time our work directly impacts the life of a young person, we create a new sporting chance for them.

Our latest Impact Report illustrates the difference we have made in 2017. 

This year we have:

Provided 3,931 coaching sessions across both of our disability cricket programmes
Given 7,811 young people with disabilities the chance to play cricket through our disability cricket programmes
Seen nearly 600 young people take part in our Wicketz programme on a weekly basis
Recycled over 4,100 items of kit to 14 countries
Donated 43 minibuses
Installed 42 sensory and play equipment facilities
Donated 73 sports wheelchairs

 

Our mission

is to enhance the lives of disadvantaged and disabled young people through sport and recreation

Our programmes

support some of the most marginalised and at risk young people in the UK

We create

a range of opportunities for young people from deprived areas and those with disabilities to engage in sport and recreational activities in their local communities

Our outcomes

Increase opportunities for regular participation
Motivate young people to engage in sport
Improve health, social and psychological well-being
Empower volunteers, coaches and teachers to deliver training sessions

The Injured Jockeys Fund was the brainchild of founding Trustee and past President John Oaksey and came about following the devastating accidents of Tim Brookshaw and four months later Paddy Farrell in the 1964 Grand National. Both falls resulted in severe paralysis which immediately ended both their careers.

The IJF also works closely with racing authorities and other organisations on many initiatives. It part funds on course physios and medical services and also research into improved riding protection equipment for jockeys which has resulted in a number of improved manufacturing standards being implemented. The Fund also provided the Equichute based at The British Racing School which is used in fall training for students and current jockeys.

In 2009 it opened its first rehabilitation centre, Oaksey House, in Lambourn and in April 2015 opened Jack Berry House a second state-of-the-art rehabilitation and fitness centre in Malton for northern based jockeys.