Armed forces announced as official charities at Royal Ascot

Ascot racecourse has announced that the three principal Service Armed Forces charities – the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund – will be the official nominated charity partners for Royal Ascot 2021.

All the charities have traditional been supported on the Friday of the Royal meeting with more than £20,000 raised from bucket collections.

In 2021, the charities will have an extended presence across the five days of racing to help them raise as much money as possible having been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In partnership with the Armed Forces charities, Ascot will raise awareness of their work by promoting personal stories of servicemen and women through digital content, on-course activations and in the Royal Ascot racecard.

Ascot will also make a donation from the sale of certain foods and beverages alongside making a donation from the sale of Royal Ascot Hampers, which will be sold on the online Ascot shop. £5 for each two-person hamper sold and £10 for each six-person hamper sold will be donated to the Armed Forces charities.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs, said: “We are delighted to confirm this charity partnership with the Armed Forces charities for Royal Ascot this year.

“Typically, racegoers really engage with the three charities on the Friday, and it will be fantastic to see some of the military personnel and volunteers back on site through the week.

“Having been unable to welcome them last year due to the pandemic, we are really pleased to extend our relationship across all five days and look forward to helping them raise much needed funds and awareness of the work they do.”

Brigadier Peter Walker OBE, Chairman of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in Berkshire, added: “The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the RAF Benevolent Fund are delighted to be the official nominated charity partners for Royal Ascot 2021.

“The three charities have been working with Ascot racecourse at Royal Ascot since 2013 and it is with great pleasure that we are able to continue and strengthen our relationship this year.

“The members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and RAF who will be at Royal Ascot are very much looking forward to the event, and the three charities would like to thank everyone involved for their support which helps to assist Armed Forces personnel, both past and present, in times of need.”