YGAM and GamCare beat targets for gambling education programme
The two British responsible gambling charities trained 7,091 people on its Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme in 2020.
UK.- The responsible gambling charities YGAM and GamCare have beaten the first-year targets for their joint Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme, which launched last year.
The initiative, which is supported by the Betting and Gaming Council, trained 7,091 educational practitioners in 2020.
YGAM trained 2,906, beating its target of 2,592. Those practitioners are in turn estimated to have provided educational sessions to 184,700 young people, beating the target of 170,300.
GamCare trained 4,185 professionals, beating its target by almost 3,000 and provided workshops to 3,947 young people.
The programme now covers all regions in England and Wales and also offers support services for young people in Northern Ireland.
The charities aim to work with a minimum of 132,492 practitioners and partner organisations by 2024.
See also: GamCare to research online gambling behaviour
Anna Hemmings, chief executive of GamCare, said: “Both GamCare and YGAM believe passionately that education on the risks associated with gambling and gaming is an essential part of tackling harms for young people and increasing their digital resilience overall.
“I am particularly proud of the team considering the circumstances in which this has been achieved. The pandemic has proved a huge challenge, yet our teams have continued to deliver great engagement with professionals and young people. We’ve also developed a dedicated support service tailored to the needs of young people.
“For any young person worried about gambling, the service is free, flexible and confidential, and will ensure that each young person receives the most appropriate support for them. We’ve had overwhelming support from those we’ve trained.”
Responsible gambling charities go digital
GamCare has developed an e-learning platform as part of its blended educational package. Meanwhile, YGAM’s newly launched Parent Hub provides resources for families.
Lee Willows, chief executive and founder of YGAM, said: “I am extremely proud of the enormous success we have already seen from the programme.
“As 2020 unfolded, we saw the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as an invitation to develop YGAM’s digital capacity in all areas of our work. Although this was done as a response to the crisis, the effect has been significantly advantageous for our education programme.
“The programme is reaching more communities in more regions and this fantastic progress will continue in the following years.
“Now that the delivery is entirely digital, we have removed enormous barriers which may have prevented some individuals and organisations from taking part. The programme is reaching more communities in more regions and this fantastic progress will continue in the following years.”
