Three UK gambling support advocates named in King’s Birthday Honours
Members of GambleAware, GamCare and the NHS Northern Gambling Service has been named MBEs.
UK.- A trio of advocates for gambling harm support services have been named Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in King Charles III’s Birthday Honours. Nicola Jaques of GambleAware, Dominic Harrison of GamCare, and Matt Gaskell of the NHS are all prominent figures who have worked on enhancing support services in the field.
Nicola Jaques, chair of GambleAware’s Lived Experience Council, has championed the use of lived experience in policymaking and service design makig it a major part of the national gambling harm.
She said the MBE was recognition of the gambling harms sector’s campaigns for reform and emphasised the importance of systemic change, community engagement and educational initiatives. She also praised organisations like the Beacon Counselling Trust and the National Gambling Support Network for their family- and community-focused approaches to care.
Dominic Harrison, trustee and Audit Committee chair at GamCare, was acknowledged for his longstanding service. GamCare Chair Margot Daly said that Harrison’s pragmatic and empathetic approach had strengthened the charity’s operations and supported substantial growth in its outreach through its helpline, therapy network and digital tools.
Finally, consultant Ppsychologist Matt Gaskell, is the founder of the NHS Northern Gambling Service. He received the MBE for his role in expanding specialist treatment for gambling disorders within the national health system. Since launching the service in 2019, Gaskell has overseen its expansion into six regional hubs across northern England.
Dr Sara Munro, chief executive of Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Matt’s work has saved lives. He has been instrumental in building the NHS Northern Gambling Service into a model of care and a driver of policy reform.”
The honours come at a time of change for the organisation and funding of support services in Britain. A mandatory gambling levy on operators came into force in April, and the funds will be distributed by the Gambling Commission and the NHS rather than GambleAware. A new framework is being overseen by the NHS and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).
