Northants charity announced as CarFest partner

CarFest Spectators watch a red race car performing a drifting display on a track bordered by straw bales. The car is surrounded by tyre marks and smoke, with festival flags, tents, and crowds visible across the venue.CarFest
CarFest is taking place at Silverstone, Northamptonshire for the first time after previously being held at Laverstoke Park Farm in Overton, Hampshire.

A Northamptonshire charity will receive a share of the funds raised by a music and motoring festival, to go towards "communities that need them most."

Northamptonshire Community Foundation (NCF) has been chosen as a partner for CarFest's debut at Silverstone and is set to receive two percent of the money raised.

The festival, founded by radio presenter Chris Evans in 2012, takes place from 28 to 30 August with a music line-up featuring Jessie J and Tom Jones.

Rachel McGrath, chief executive of NCF, said: "Knowing that funds raised will stay right here in the county, going directly to the people and communities that need them most, makes this partnership feel really special."

Rachel McGrath Close-up portrait of a person indoors wearing a dark top and striped scarf. The background includes a fireplace, greeting cards, framed pictures. Rachel McGrath
Rachel McGrath said NCF is "delighted" to partner with CarFest.

NCF is a grant-making charity awarding more than £1million in grants annually to local voluntary and community organisations tackling issues like child poverty, homelessness and unemployment.

It is also part of a joint emergency initiative with the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation and Forever Notts Community Foundation which supports victims of the fatal Bedfordshire train crash which happened on 19 June.

McGrath said the initiative has raised £7,000 which will go directly to the most critically injured from the accident.

She added: "I think it's important when people want to help that they have safe and trusted ways to do so.

"I'm proud to say that that's where the community foundations can help."

CarFest People on a brightly lit outdoor stage alongside a large orange teddy bear mascot wearing a colorful polka-dot eye patch. Two presenters hold microphones while purple stage lights and event signage are visible in the background.CarFest
BBC Children in Need receives 50 percent of the total funds raised.

Chris Evans, the founder of CarFest, said: "As we head to Silverstone for the first time, we are so proud to be supporting the Northamptonshire Community Foundation."

Since launching, the festival has raised more than £28 million for UK children's charities including BBC Children in Need, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Epilepsy.

Getty Images Tom Jones standing on stage smiling holding a microphone. There is another musician in the background and drums are visible. Getty Images
Singer Sir Tom Jones will perform at CarFest at Silverstone in August.

The festival, designed for whole family entertainment, includes food stalls, chef demonstrations, celebrity talks and wellness sessions in addition to the cars.

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