London, 8 September 2022: GambleAware, the leading charity keeping people safe from gambling harms, has published its future commissioning intentions for the National Gambling Treatment Service (NGTS). The new intentions are designed to meet the growing and changing needs of those at risk of gambling harms in Great Britain.

The National Gambling Treatment Service is a network of third sector organisations which provider free, confidential treatment and support for people at risk of, and who experience, gambling harm, as well as those affected by someone else’s gambling.

Following a strategic review process, which involved in-depth engagement with gambling harm treatment providers, lived experience representatives, local authorities and partners in the NHS, a new Outcomes Framework and Delivery Model was developed. This informed the design of a regional first approach across England, Scotland and Wales for the NGTS, which will enable all partners to deliver more targeted support to greater numbers of people in need.

The redesign is an ongoing piece of work and part of GambleAware’s organisational commitment to “improve the coherence, accessibility, diversity, and effectiveness of the National Gambling Treatment Service”, as outlined in its current five-year strategy.

Anna Hargrave, Chief Commissioning Officer, GambleAware said: “We are excited to announce our new commissioning plans which will build on the success of our current prevention, support and treatment programmes. In the context of rising costs-of-living and increasing numbers of people at risk of gambling harm, we want to ensure our commissioning strategy can respond to the changing environment and the needs of the most vulnerable communities and groups.

“We have built-up a wide pool of expertise and knowledge around gambling harms from years of working with our partners and we will continue to use this insight to improve and inform our work and ensure we are able to make a lasting impact to people’s lives.”

GambleAware will be encouraging both new and existing providers to apply for funding over the coming year. GambleAware’s full future commissioning plans, which have been guided by the independent review process, can be viewed on our website and include the Outcomes Framework, Service Blueprint and Commissioning Intentions.

-ENDS-

Contact

GambleAware

+44 (0)7729 120230 

pressoffice@gambleaware.org

Notes

About GambleAware

• GambleAware is the leading charity (Charity No. England & Wales 1093910, Scotland SC049433) working to keep people safe from gambling harms. We do this by leading public health campaigns and driving the transformation of treatment and prevention services.
• GambleAware is an independent charity, accountable to the Charity Commission, with an extremely robust system of governance processes in place. The majority of our Board of trustees are leaders within the NHS and public health sector.
• We work in close collaboration with the NHS, clinicians, local and national government, gambling treatment providers, as well as other services like mental health, substance misuse and criminal justice, to ensure that the whole system works together to help people suffering from gambling harms.
• Research from our Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2021 shows that one in 10 people who gamble are at risk of experiencing gambling harms. Gambling can harm people and their families financially, psychologically and physically. GambleAware works in close collaboration with leading organisations and experts including the NHS, government, local authorities and gambling treatment providers, to ensure that people get the information, support and treatment they need.
• GambleAware is a commissioner of independent evidence-informed prevention and treatment services in partnership with expert organisations and agencies across Great Britain, with over £56 million of funding under active management.

About the National Gambling Treatment Service

• In partnership with gambling treatment providers, GambleAware has spent several years methodically building structures for commissioning a coherent system of brief intervention and treatment services, with clearly defined care pathways and established referral routes to and from the NHS – a National Gambling Treatment Service.
• The National Gambling Treatment Service brings together a National Gambling Helpline and a network of locally-based providers across Great Britain that works with partner agencies and people with lived experience to design and deliver a system, which meets the needs of individuals. This system delivers a range of treatment services, including brief intervention, counselling (delivered either face-to-face or online), residential programmes and psychiatrist led care.