Current prevention programmes

Prevention activity

GambleAware takes a public health approach to our understanding of gambling harms, as opposed to considering it as an issue of personal responsibility. This model recognises that gambling harms are caused by a range of socio-cultural, environmental, commercial and political determinants. As such, our priority is prevention; primary prevention focusing on awareness raising, education and training to prevent harm; secondary preventions focusing on early interventions and promotion of tools to prevent the progression of harm; and tertiary prevention focusing on the treatment and support of people experiencing harm to prevent the progression of harm. The following is a summary of the investments we make in the gambling harm sector to help ensure that more people can live free from gambling harms. 

Education and training

As part of our commitment to prevention, GambleAware commissions a number of education and training programmes across Great Britain. We work with trusted providers to help reach advice-giving professionals across a range of sectors. The work we commission helps raise awareness around the impact and effect of gambling harms, builds the confidence of professionals to start conversations about gambling and provides clear guidance on routes to support. 

Training

Our Education and Training programmes reach professionals working across a range of sectors. 

• In 2023, over 4,000 staff were trained across Citizens Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice England and Wales. Staff now regularly ask about gambling harms in their meetings with clients and are able to signpost support and resources within meetings.
• Our partnership with the Royal College of GPs has created a learning and accreditation programme available to any staff working within a general practice. The programme helps equip staff with the knowledge they need to support the general public. 
• We commissioned the Women's gambling harms prevention programme, which reached over 3,000 professionals from a range of sectors, in 2023. 

Education

• Further commitment to early intervention and prevention demonstrated through our investment in Education programmes which reach young people. 
  • We commission Ygam's successful youth programme through the System Stabilisation Fund to deliver training for youth facing professionals across England and Wales, equipping staff with the knowledge, support and resources to help educate young people about gambling harms. 
  • Now in its sixth year, the Scottish Gambling Education Hub has trained over 1,000 professionals, with the majority (85%) reporting that they had embedded gambling education and harm prevention in their work within six months after the training. 

Early intervention and prevention models

GambleAware funds a range of services for people at risk or affected by gambling harm. These projects act as a bridge, encouraging people to recognise their own gambling harm and to connect people into support at the earliest possible moment, to prevent additional burdens of harm. 

GambleAware commissions the National Gambling Support Network (NSGN). The NGSN enables thousands to access free, effective gambling harms support- ranging from early intervention through to therapy, residential treatment and aftercare. 

The NGSN delivers a regional first approach with an additional focus on increased early intervention and support within local communities and a stronger involvement of lived experience in the design of services. 

Each of the providers across the NGSN has a focus to engage with people and community's representative of those regions, with a requirement to meet the needs of underserved communities. Providers are committed to cultivating connections with specific umbrella community organisation's to raise awareness of gambling harms, the support and treatment available, as well as improving referral pathways. 

Some highlights include: 

• In April-June 2023, there was a 24% year-on-year increase in calls to the National Gambling Helpline and a 46% year-on-year increase in early intervention - including guided, online and in-person support - delivered through the Helpline. 
• 11,390 people were supported through brief interventions by (regional) NGSN providers. This has more than doubled since the NGSN was launched in April 2023.

A number of our open access funding programme models seek to mobilise community-based organisation's across Great Britain to raise awareness of gambling harm and also to provide earlier access to support for people. Some highlights include: 

• In 2022 Gamble Aware launched the Community Resilience Fund and awarded £1m in total to 21 organisations across Great Britain to reach communities most affected by the cost-of-living crisis. In one year over 100,000 people were reached with awareness raising activities, and 5,200 people were reached through brief interventions.  

• Through the Aftercare funding programme we have supported 11 organisations to develop a range of holistic services reflecting the varied and complex longer-term needs of people experiencing gambling harms to help prevent further harm. These projects received up to 3 years of funding, running from January 2023 to January 2026. 

• In 2024 we launched the Improving Outcomes Fund which aims to reduce the inequalities which exist relating to gambling harm for women and people from minority communities. The 25 projects selected will be working to develop awareness raising and front-line services that better meet the needs of people from different communities, and ensure people get the support they need at the earliest possible point, and therefore prevent further harm.