GamCare to drop UK gambling education programme for young people
The charity said the programme will close by October due to a lack of funding.
UK.- The gambling support and treatment charity GamCare has announced that it will halt its gambling harm prevention and education programme for children and under-18s. It said it had taken the “difficult decision” because of a lack of sustainable funding. The programme will close by the end of September.
The GamCare Young People’s Programme has been running since 2020. The charity says it has provided support and education to over 250,000 children, young people, and stakeholders in local communities in that time.
“From October 2025, GamCare will no longer provide education, prevention or outreach programmes aimed at reducing gambling harm experienced by children and young people, nor will it offer specific treatment and support services for under-18s,” GamCare said.
GamCare’s main frontline treatment services will continue as normal, as will the UK National Gambling Helpline (Freephone 0808 8020 133), which provides support for minors as well as adults. Prevention and early-intervention support for young people will remain available via the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), which also provides training for teachers, youth workers and parents.
GamCare said it would also retain its Youth Advisory Board “to ensure young people’s voices continue to inform our work.”
In February, GamCare named Victoria Corbishley, the former UK Director at the British Red Cross, as CEO. Corbishley has also led NHS England projects related to transforming models of care and organisational management. Her appointment came ahead of the introduction of a new mandatory gambling levy in the UK to fund research, education and treatment.
