A landmark achievement has been attained by GamCare’s Youth Programme as it reaches a noteworthy milestone, engaging over 100,000 young individuals. This successful collective endeavour, launched in April 2020, is executed in association with esteemed regional providers Aquarius, Ara, Beacon and NECA. The collaborative programme has centred upon equipping educators, youth workers, and various professionals with essential training, enabling them to support the young in making judicious choices when it comes to gambling activities.
GamCare has designed precise workshops to communicate crucial information about gambling and its embedded risks, directing a spotlight on the young demographic who might be particularly vulnerable. The content of these educational sessions spans a range of themes, from the detrimental effects of gambling on personal lives and family dynamics to the promotion of consciousness regarding available supportive services for those in need.
Furthermore, the Youth Programme boasts of having delivered advanced training to approximately 25,000 professionals, strengthening the network of those who are responsible for guiding young people through the potential pitfalls associated with gambling. GamCare articulates that this empowerment of professionals reinforces their ability to aptly address gambling-related issues among the youth they cater to.
Operating under the wider umbrella of the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme—a partnership between GamCare and Ygam—the initiative has been at the forefront of fostering an environment where young people are well-informed of the hazards of gambling. Alexa Roseblade, the head of youth at GamCare, expressed immense pride in the programme’s accomplishments which she believes has substantially contributed to increasing awareness about the prevalence and dangers of gambling for young individuals.
Ms. Roseblade went on to highlight the significance of educating 100,000 young people with factual insights about gambling, assisting them to make informed decisions, and enlightening them on support mechanisms should they seek help. She views these educational efforts as a crucial stride in the commitment to safeguarding young individuals.
The revelation of the programme’s success coincides with GamCare’s recent announcement of a noticeable upsurge in calls and online communications to its National Gambling Helpline. Within the year ending 31 March 2023, there were 44,049 calls made, setting a new historical high. The 12-month period witnessed the provision of 82,505 calls, chats, and treatment sessions altogether. In sync with the educative wing, a total of 64,374 individuals received training in gambling awareness, enveloping 45,562 children and youngsters deemed to be at risk.
There was also a marginal growth in the number of individuals seeking treatment, with a year-on-year increment of 0.4%, raising the figure to 9,009 individuals. Statistical data from the helpline service distribution indicates that the 26-35 age group sought help the most, accounting for 41.7% of the total calls. This was followed by the 36-45 age group at 22.9%, and those aged 25 and below at 15.4%.
Serving as a testimony to the effectiveness of the comprehensive approach employed by GamCare and its partners, the Youth Programme’s milestone accentuates the importance of educational engagement in tackling gambling-related harm. By combining the expertise and resources of all parties involved, the programme continues to be an exemplary model in the landscape of preventive initiatives aimed at insulating young lives from the blight of problematic gambling.
