RACING Welfare, which has a base in Malton, has launched a national housing needs survey for the horse-racing industry.

The charity's own housing association has commissioned Cambridge University’s Centre for Housing and Planning Research (CCHPR) to conduct the survey with the aim of identifying the levels of welfare-driven housing requirements currently being experienced within the racing industry.

A review undertaken by the British Horse-racing Board in 2013 identified that housing persists as a key issue for the industry with 69 per cent of respondents highlighting that the lack of affordable housing was a major welfare issue for staff.

Keith Bovill, Racing Homes’ head of housing, said: "Since the Donoghue Report in 2004, Racing Welfare has delivered an additional 36 units of accommodation for racing staff, including young person’s schemes in Malton, Lambourn and Middleham.

"The results of this National Housing Needs Survey will be of great importance, not only in informing our own internal housing strategy, but also serving as a tool to open up meaningful dialogue in how best to address this wider racing-industry issue.

"We want to encourage as many current and former racing staff, from across the country, to participate in completing the online survey.”

The survey can be completed online at cambridge.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9MsmVOfOIeiDckB

It is anonymous and there is prize draw to people who take part.