A MALTON woman has won a national award for her work with retired people.

Sarah Monkman, who works at Racing Welfare, was presented with the Rory MacDonald Community Award at the 13th annual Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards in London on Monday.

The awards, organised by the British Horseracing Authority, recognise the dedication and skill of more than 6,000 members of stable staff nationwide, who look after 14,000 racehorses in training in Britain.

Sarah took up her role as welfare support worker in January 2015 and within 16 months had set up a new community project and partnership with The Sporting Memories Foundation.

The project aimed to link Racing Welfare’s current activities for those aged over 50 and retired racing industry staff to the national Sporting Memories project, which promotes well-being through reminiscence.

Sarah’s determination led her to secure funding from the National Lottery and it has been such a success that Racing Welfare would like to scale it up to become a national project.

Her innovative project has not only raised the profile of Racing Welfare to the wider community, but crucially it has enabled British horseracing to be involved with a national sporting project.

Sarah said it had been “unbelievable” when she was announced as a winner.

“I would like to thank Racing Welfare, I have only been there two years but their support for the Sporting Memories project, which helps people who are isolated or suffering from dementia, has been fantastic,” he said.

“This award is not just for me, but for all the retired people I work with.”

The winners were announced at a ceremony hosted by ITV Racing’s Ed Chamberlin at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London.

Simone Sear, of Racing Welfare, said: “Sarah has made a huge impact and difference to the Malton and Norton racing community since she started and she always goes above and beyond her role to make a difference.”