PJA Coronavirus Support Package

This is the seventh of our regular updates and we are pleased to be able to confirm some of the details of the initial Covid-19 Support Package that we have been able to secure funding for jockeys, working in partnership with the rest of the sport. This package has been designed to work in a complementary way to Government support packages that have been announced, assist with cash flow and deal with issues of hardship.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the other stakeholders in racing for working so constructively and co-operatively with us to get this support package off the ground, and in particular would like to thank the Racing Foundation and Injured Jockeys Fund for their support.

We all acknowledge this is just the beginning. This support package does not solve all of the issues and it is almost certain that more support across the sport will be needed once racing is up and running and we have a clearer picture of the wider societal implications of Coronavirus. Please do not think that we believe our work on your behalf is done – we know that is far from being the case.

The three elements to this package are detailed below. Given the support package has just been announced, the detail relating to the implementation of these schemes – with the exception of Hardship Grants – is still being developed. The information provided below is therefore a guide of how we believe the schemes will operate but is subject to change.

1. PJA INCOME SUPPORT SCHEME

The PJA Income Support Scheme has been designed to support those jockeys, as well as valets and agents, who fall outside of existing Government schemes.

The Government has announced that self-employed individuals will be able to claim via the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS). This scheme allows a self-employed individual to claim 80% of their average monthly earnings over the last three years if their average annual earnings/profit before tax was less than £50,000. HMRC will be writing to any individual who qualifies for this scheme and aim to do so in May, with payments being made in June, backdated to the start of the lockdown.

Full details on SEISS can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-thecoronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme.

The PJA Income Support Scheme (PJAISS) has been designed to provide support for those who do not qualify for SEISS because:

• They have not yet filed their first tax return and have not missed the deadline to do so.

• They have not filed a tax return for the tax year 2018/19 because they were licensed overseas prior to April 2019 or had no self-employed income (ie from race riding).

• They have filed tax returns, including for 2018/19, but have earnings/profits before tax of more than £50,000

As well as not qualifying for SEISS as above, an applicant:

• Must hold a current professional jockeys, agents or valets licence issued by the BHA

OR

• a) Would have held a current licence as above but does not hold one due to the licence lapsing or being relinquished as a result of riding overseas or being injured (eg a jockey has just returned from overseas and applied but the licence has not yet been issued or a jockey

AND

• b) held a professional licence issued by the BHA in 2019 which has lapsed/was relinquished as a result of riding overseas or being injured

OR

• Held a professional jockeys licence issued by the BHA prior to the suspension of racing on the 20th March 2020, but has since been sacked or laid off by his or her employing trainer and their licence has therefore been relinquished.

Those excluded from receiving payments are:

• Anyone who has not held a licence as above

• Anyone currently in receipt of PRIS payments

• Anyone eligible to be paid SEISS, including those who should have submitted a tax return for 2018/19 but have failed to do so by the extended deadline of 24th April 2020.

Any jockey who qualifies for PJAISS will need to register and will then receive a monthly payment equivalent to 80% of their average monthly earnings, up to a maximum amount of £2500 per month. Payments will be backdated to when racing was suspended and are due to continue to June, in line with Government schemes. This will be reviewed in due course though any possible extension will depend on Government guidance, any resumption of racing and availability of funding.

Those registering for PJAISS will have to provide supporting evidence of qualification, either by providing their last three tax returns or other supporting documentation.

This scheme is also open to any Agent or Valet who has not been furloughed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and will not qualify for SEISS.

2. INTEREST FREE OVERDRAFTS FROM WEATHERBYS BANK

For those that do qualify for SEISS any money from the Government will not be paid until June. In order to assist with cash flow whilst waiting for those payments, Weatherbys Bank will provide interest and fee free overdrafts for those that need them. These overdrafts will need to be repaid once any monies come in from SEISS or fees and interest will be incurred.

3. JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION TRUST & IJF HARDSHIP GRANT FUND

In addition to the above schemes, further support will be available to PJA members through the Jockeys Association Trust (the PJA’s own charity) and the Injured Jockeys Fund.

We have worked closely with the IJF in creating the Coronavirus Hardship Grant Fund which is designed to relieve or prevent financial hardship. If you need any financial support over and above Government schemes, the above schemes or any other current earnings you can apply for a grant utilising the form which will be sent to all PJA members

Applications will be considered by your local IJF Almoner, who will speak to you directly to discuss the application and request any additional supporting documentation that is required. The IJF will then make their recommendations to the Jockeys Association Trust, whose Trustees will consider each recommendation and authorise any subsequently approved payments via Weatherbys Bank.

Any application should be submitted to the IJF by emailing ijfalmoner@ijf.org.uk or posting the application to: PJA & IJF Hardship Grants, Peter O’Sullevan House, 7a Newmarket Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7NU.

These are charitable funds and the money isn’t endless, so whilst we strongly encourage those who need extra support to apply, please only do so if you really need the extra support.

The following is an initial guideline to the value of grants we would consider issuing, although every application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis:

Jockey PRIS Grade Rides in Previous Year Maximum Available 1 Up to 74 £500.00 2 75-114 £750.00 3 115-154 £1,000.00 4 155-199 £1,250.00 5 200-249 £1,500.00 6 250-349 £1,750.00 7 350-449 £2,000.00 8 450-599 £2,250.00 9 600 + £2,500.00

Valets and Agents suffering from financial hardship and in seek of financial support can apply for a Grant from Racing Welfare’s Covid 19 Hardship Grant scheme. Full details are available at www.racingwelfare.co.uk.

RESUMPTION OF RACING UPDATE

Following on from yesterday’s announcement by Government that the lockdown will remain in place until May 7th at the earliest, we are no further forward in knowing when we will be able to resume racing. However, following both collective conversations within the Resumption of Racing Group and separate conference calls with the BHA, we remain actively involved in the process of planning for how, when and where we restart.

Confidence of all involved in the race day operation will be vital to the success of the resumption in the first instance and we have reiterated that the health and well-being of all participants remain of the utmost importance.

Plans are being developed and discussed for all eventualities, from the potential for racing with significant restrictions, to racing behind closed doors all the way to racing as normal, though the latter seems some way off.

Racing is in touch with government and other sports as part of the development of a responsible, coordinated plan for the return of sport when it is appropriate and safe to do so.

* * * *

We will be in touch with further details next week but in if you have any questions or concerns, or need any advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch with any of the team – all our details are below.

The PJA Team – Dale, Izzy, Nigel, Paul and Vicky

Useful Contacts

PJA – @PJAOfficial

Paul Struthers – 07966 590105/01264 730770, ps@thepja.co.uk

Dale Gibson – 07970 149415, dg@thepja.co.uk

Izzy Desailly – 07771 656396, id@thepja.co.uk

Vicky Lee – 01635 778108/ 07585 633400, vl@thepja.co.uk

Aodhagan Conlon, Performance Mindset Consultant – 07815 016900

Sporting Chance 24/7 Helpline – 07780 008877

JETS – @JETS4JOCKEYS

Lisa Delany, JETS – 07919 417462, lisa@jets-uk.org

Phil Kinsella, JETS – 07970 673351, Phil@jets-uk.org

IJF – @IJF_official

Oaksey House, Lambourn: 01488 674242 / @OakseyHouse

Jack Berry House, Malton: 01653 602090 / @JBHouse

Peter O’Sullevan House, Newmarket: 01638 662246 / @POHse2019

Nutrition Team

Julia Scott Douglas (East/Midlands) 07768 996296 / @juliascottdouga

Dan Martin (North/LJMU) 07902 151916 / @nutritiondan

Hannah Trotman (South) 07772 508999 / @HannahTrotman

Oliver Whiteman (Newmarket) 07534 080829 / @WhitemanOliver

George Wilson (LJMU) 07720 849919