YGAM to train London’s Metropolitan Police
The charity will train the force’s youth engagement team to identify gambling related harm.
UK.- The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) is to train the Metropolitan Police Service’s Youth Engagement Team on identification and prevention of gaming related harm in young people.
The initiative is part of the force’s strategy to engage with schools and young people.
Rebecca Mark, YGAM head of education delivery (south), said: “During the training session we will share our fantastic bank of resources and activities.
“These have been developed to be age appropriate and facilitate purposeful conversations regarding the potential risks of gaming and gambling with the young people the Met work with across London.
“We look forward to a lasting and productive relationship with the police officers who are in the ideal position to deliver our educational and harm prevention sessions alongside teachers and youth workers.”
After completing training, officers will be able to speak to school pupils about gambling and gaming-related harm.
PS Paul Connolly from the Metropolitan Police Youth Strategy, Engagement & Schools programme said: “The training provides us with the tools to help us to better understand the wider issues and consequences surrounding gambling and gaming amongst young people.
“Our officers gain access to high-quality resources, such as innovative activities and lesson plans for our officers to share with teachers, youth workers or even deliver for themselves with the aim of educating and safeguarding young people.
“Additionally, the workshop is accredited which enables our officers to receive formal recognition upon completion and further demonstrates the value of this training.”
Research by the Gambling Commission found that 37 per cent of 11-16 year olds in England and Scotland gambled in the last 12 months.
YGAM is providing 90-minute online workshops to organisations that work with young people, including details of signs of harm and where to find support.
