Following a successful pilot in Scotland, GambleAware has earmarked £2.5m ($3.3m) for multiple organisations, including GamCare, YGAM and Adferiad Recovery, to expand its Gambling Education Hubs across England and Wales.
According to GambleAware, its Scottish Hub improved practitioners’ confidence when it comes to identifying signs of gambling harm, with 92% saying they felt confident after training compared to only 35% beforehand.
Now, with this new investment, GambleAware is aiming to apply the lessons learnt from its Scottish pilot scheme elsewhere. This comes at what the charity calls a “critical period” as young people “are increasingly exposed to easily accessible gambling.”
What’s more, GambleAware claims its hubs are designed to reach communities where “central government sometimes cannot,” by engaging people at a local level.
Following a competitive tender process, GamCare, in partnership with YGAM, Addiction Recovery Agency (ARA), Aquarius, Beacon, Breakeven and Neca will carry out the work in England, while Adferiad Recovery will oversee the programme’s efforts in Wales.
“We are delighted to be receiving this grant to deliver gambling education hubs across England,” said Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive of GamCare.
“We work in collaboration with a number of organisations who bring unparalleled experience of working with young people around these issues.”
Meanwhile, Zoë Osmond, GambleAware’s CEO, remarked: “At a time when young people are increasingly exposed to gambling, the delivery of local-focused programs for gambling education and prevention of harms has never been more important.”
