'Jockey's donation has turned my life around'

A man who had been sleeping rough has said his life has been turned around thanks to support from one of Britain's most promising young jockeys.

The £50,000 donation from Billy Loughnane has helped a charity - which finds employment and a place to live for those who have experienced homelessness - to expand its work to Derby.

The 20-year-old jockey won the 2024 UK and Ireland World Pool Jockeys' Championship and his donation has allowed Standing Tall to help Jamie Dial into employment on a city building site.

It has also provided him with a host family he can stay with, a far cry from the days when the 25-year-old was sleeping rough, finding shelter in doorways and on park benches.

Loughnane first raced as a professional in 2022, before going on to ride 23 winners in January 2023 at the age of just 16. He rode 222 winners in 2025, a record this century.

The championship he won in 2024 commanded a £50,000 prize. Jockeys typically donate prizes to a charity connected to racing but Loughnane was keen to support a different concern close to his heart.

The Christy Lambe Foundation was set up by Michael Lambe, chief executive of M Lambe Construction after the loss of his brother Christy following a long mental health battle.

The construction company had sponsored Loughnane, who wanted to show his gratitude.

"Christy's dad has been very good to me since I started and Christy has a special place in all our hearts so I was delighted to be able to give a little bit back," said Loughnane.

"When I met Jamie I realised how good it's been for him, getting him back up and going, so hopefully I'll be able to do it again in the future."

The foundation then donated the money to the charity Standing Tall, allowing it to expand into Derby.

Standing Tall was founded by Christy Acton in 2020. It matches work-ready people who have experienced homelessness with an employer and a local host with a spare room in their home.

"To see Jamie in full-time work on site, it's sort of the end of the story, but in a way it's the beginning of the story. Hopefully we'll find lots more people like Jamie in Derby," said Acton.

"We've got an 80% success rate, so four out of five of the people we're helping are in the same job one year later, which is really high - probably higher than the general recruitment rate."

Dial said he was keen to build on the skills he had already developed at M Lambe Construction's site at the former Friar Gate goods yard in Derby.

"It's just a good step up for me because I do enjoy working. I miss working and I feel like I'm back together again," he said.

"It's a very nice thing for someone to actually believe in me for once."

The groundworker is now saving money and hopes to move into his own flat by the end of the year.

"I'm over the moon having a roof over my head right now but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming because I never thought I could do that," he said.

"The charity [Standing Tall] is brilliant. I hope it can help other people like me."

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