THE Irish Jockeys Trust was founded in November 1975 and is celebrating 40 years of caring and support to professional injured, incapacitated and aged jockeys, apprentice jockeys and their families.

Three months ago I was contacted by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Senior Medical Officer of the Turf Club, in relation to a young professional jockey who was suffering from anxiety and depression. When I met with him, it emerged that there were both personal and career issues, which he was finding very difficult to handle.

Over the weeks I set a series of tasks and exercises for him. Progressively, he was able to recover his self-confidence and self esteem. He began to cope. On Monday last, I received a call from him to thank the Trust for the support which we have given. He updated me on how he has moved his life forward and been able to make significant decisions regarding his future. He has now actioned his lead decision.

About this time last year I had a conversation with Ruby Walsh, the chairperson of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. Ruby asked: “Why do jockeys contact the Irish Jockeys Trust?” My immediate response was to say that, as most professional jockeys are self-employed, they are not covered by social protection, either for disability benefit or jobseeker’s benefit when they are injured.

Secondly, few riders are in the top bands of cover given by the Jockeys Accident Fund (which is the jockeys’ income protection scheme). This often results in financial difficulties. Thirdly, a significant number leave school at an early age and find it difficult to move into employment in areas outside the equine business.

Later, as I thought about Ruby’s question, I decided that the Trust should invest in the resources to answer the question he raised in a lot more detail. So we acquired Microsoft Access software and employed a staff member in January this year who, on two mornings a week, inputs the relevant information.

SPREADING THE WORD

Some three years ago, I was also aware of the need for the Trust to develop a communications strategy, to explain the work of the Trust and to get our message out there.

We were aware of the importance of social media and the power it has. The Trust set up three Facebook pages, the Irish Jockeys Trust, Friends of the Irish Jockeys’ Trust and a Jockeys Work Education and Training.

The investment of time in this communication strategy has resulted in a significant increase in the uptake of the services provided by the Trust. This will be seen in some of the detailed figures, which I will give a little later.

The support required by injured jockeys can, in some cases, be very complex. Who is responsible for what aspect of support or care can sometimes be less than clear. For that reason I have devised the Integrated Care Pathway for Injured Jockeys Intervention Strategy (ICP). The Intervention Strategy can be used from simple to complex cases. The approach put simply is as follows:

“Integrated care pathways aim to improve the continuity and coordination of care across different disciplines and sectors and service providers. Working with the patient the pathway acknowledges all those who provide support. It provides strategic clarity”.

The Trust has been using the ICP Strategy in all of our new cases since the beginning of the year. The Strategy, combined with the information contained in our new Microsoft Access package, has been able to provide much more in-depth information about the requirements of injured, incapacitated and aged jockeys.

The Trust has a responsibility only for the care of professional and apprentice jockeys and, when required, to support their family. We are not involved in the care and support of amateur riders.

Since January we have had requests for support from 30 individuals. This compares with six new cases in both 2012 and 2013 and 17 new cases in 2014. Of these 30 new requests 43% were self referred, 32% by the Turf Club’s Senior Medical Officer, 7% by the Jockeys Association, 7% by Trustees, 4% by the Jockeys Pension Fund and 3% by RACE.

The presenting issues were:

It is very important to note that not all of those who requested support are current licensed jockeys.

The supports given were:

So far this year 43% of those who requested support have completed their involvement with the Trust.

Of that group 28% have found new careers, both within and outside the equine industry; 20% have completed courses of less than one year; 16% received financial support which has now ended; 16% have completed their course of counselling; and 12% had medical expenses paid.

Of the new cases in 2015 who are still receiving support, 23% are receiving support which is employment-related; 20% are being provided with continuing financial support; 20% continue to be supported in relation to family issues; 13% are participating in training courses of less than one year; 8% are participating in a course of longer than one year; and 7% are continuing in counselling.

J-WETS PROGRAMME

A significant part of the work of the Trust is our work, training and education programme. Helen O’Sullivan runs our J-WETS programme. Helen is a qualified career coach and teacher.

She is also a former professional jockey. She has been working in the industry for very many years. She is well known and respected across the sport. Her passion is in education and training. Helen was responsible for the introduction of the FETAC programme at RACE.

Helen will always point out that when a jockey is injured, “their absence from riding gives them an opportunity for learning”. This is a sentiment shared by Ruby Walsh.

The success of the Trust’s J-WETS programme is best summed up in the following numbers. Since 2012, 27 individuals have participated in education with the advice of and, in some cases, financial support from the Trust. These courses have included one-to-one literacy classes, ECDL training and Train the Trainers, Health and Safety, and Manual Handling, to mention just a few. Undergraduate courses in which jockeys have participated include Equine Business, Business and Law, Physiotherapy, Sports Therapy and Security Services. Some years ago our first “jockey graduate” qualified in Accountancy.

This year the son of a deceased jockey has begun his studies in medicine with some support from the Trust. Three students completed Masters’ programmes in 2014 and 2015 with outstanding results.

In 2014 the Trust made representations to Teagasc to have Equine Management included as part of the Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Green Certificate). As a result of the acceptance of our representations, there are now four students participating on this course, which has an equine orientation. All four students were supported in their applications by the Trust.

JOCKEY COACHES

A further important initiative was taken by the Trust early this year. We were given the opportunity of having two Irish candidates trained on the BHA Jockey Coach course. The two successful candidates who were chosen to participate on the course where Gordon Power and Warren O’Connor.

We were delighted that Jill Greeves, Manager of Training at the BHA and Sue Ringrose, who was the course Director, came to Ireland in July to present both Gordon and Warren with their certificates of qualification. The availability of trained and qualified jockey coaches has received very favourable comment across the industry.

Since the beginning of 2015 the Trust has seen 11 of those we work with get or change employment. In all cases this took place following up-skilling training or education, career counselling and communications skills training.

Through the Friends of The Irish Jockeys’ Trust, employers are able to assist the Trust in providing work experience, skills assessment, in-work skills training, sheltered employment or full-time employment to those whom the Trust have been working with. It provides a channel by which employers and individuals who say, “if there is anyway I can help with the work of the Trust” can now walk the walk.

The support that we receive through our Friends programme is a vital aspect to the work of the Trust and makes a significant contribution in helping change the lives of many of our injured jockeys. Already, it has played a part in the excellent results which we have achieved in transitioning many into new careers and places of employment.

RETIRED RIDERS

Over the years a very significant number of retired jockeys have spoken to me about how they feel excluded from the sport after their retirement. Being a jockey is not like being a GAA team player who reaches the All-Ireland Finals. Their memory lives on in every club in their county and their place in the community and parish is secure. Not so for the retired jockey.

There is no club, no association, and no free racecourse pass. The feeling that no one cares when you leave the weigh room is very real. The rich stories of success on famous horses, of competition between rival jockeys, of the games played on each other and most of all of the personality of the weigh room is rarely told. For the past two years the Trust has held a lunch for both retired flat and National Hunt jockeys at the Curragh on Derby weekend and at Punchestown. These events have been so important to these retired men and women.

This year at the Curragh, Lester Piggott and Tommy Kinane dropped in to see some of their old weigh room friends, as well as the HRI chairman Joe Keeling. The Trust is in discussion with the Association of Irish Racecourses about having free entry cards awarded to these retired riders.

We also hope that there will be a room in the new Curragh grandstand development for the use of retired racing staff in which some of their memorabilia can be placed and those stories told.

The Jockeys Association and the Turf Club, following the catastrophic injuries to Paddy Mellerick, founded the Trust in November 1975. It is funded from a 1.8% deduction from the prize money, which is paid to placed jockeys, from the winning stake. That percentage is divided between the Irish Jockeys Pension (55%) and the IJT (45%). In 2015 this revenue will amount to approximately €405,000. Our website contains some personal stories about our work.

Web: ijt.ie

Email: info@ijt.ie

Tel: 087 2741209

Frank Moran is a retired professional social worker and former President of The Irish Association of Social Workers. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Frank presented his paper on the Integrated Care Pathway of Injured Jockeys at the International Conference on Health Safety and Welfare of Jockeys, during the week in Hong Kong.