Charity Secures £20,000 At Sky Bet Ebor Community Sweepstake

York-based charity Next Door But One took the top spot at this year’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival Community Sweepstake and secured £20,000 to help their cause. As part of the joint initiative between York Racecourse and Sky Bet, the sweepstake rewards local good causes from across Yorkshire and acknowledges their hard work within the community.

In what proved to be a close race until the final stretch, race favourite Magical Zoe became first past the post, meaning Next Door But One trotted off with the £20,000 grand prize. Second place went to The Clothing Bank with Menfulness taking third, securing £5,000 and £2,000 respectively.

Next Door But One is an award-winning LGBTQ+ and disability-led theatre in York. Their programme focuses on workshops and performances for and with cohorts of the community with disabilities, mental ill health, unpaid carers, women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Speaking on the victory, Matt Harper-Hardcastle, CEO and Artistic Director of Next Door But One, said:
“This is the first time I’ve ever been to the races, so the fact that we’ve come away with £20,000 for the charity is absolutely amazing. This donation has meant that we’ve already reached our funding target for the year, which will continue to be hugely beneficial into 2025. The donation received today will be used for our participatory arts programme for marginalised communities. For every £20 invested, we’re able to provide a whole year’s worth of free and inclusive arts engagement for one person, so this means we’re able to make a difference to so many. The whole team would like to thank York Racecourse and Sky Bet for their support, it really is a life-changing amount of money.”