GamCare has reached a significant milestone in its Youth Programme, welcoming its 100,000th attendee to a specialized training session. Launched in April 2020, the program is run in collaboration with UK regional providers Aquarius, Ara, Beacon, and NECA. It aims to train teachers, youth workers, and other professionals to educate young people about the potential risks of gambling.
The workshops focus on informing attendees about the negative impacts of gambling on individuals and families, as well as raising awareness about available support services. GamCare has also provided specialized training to approximately 25,000 professionals, ensuring that they have the necessary skills to address gambling-related issues in the young people they support. This program is part of the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme, a partnership between GamCare and Ygam.
Alexa Roseblade, GamCare’s head of youth, expressed pride in the program’s accomplishments, emphasizing the importance of equipping young people with the facts about gambling and supporting them in making informed decisions.
The news of this milestone follows GamCare’s announcement of an increase in calls and online chats to its National Gambling Helpline. In the year ending on March 31, 2023, the helpline received 44,049 calls, the highest level on record. Additionally, a total of 82,505 calls, chats, and treatment sessions were delivered, with 64,374 individuals receiving gambling awareness training, including 45,562 at-risk children and young people.
The total number of people attending treatment in the period also saw an increase of 0.4% year-on-year, reaching a total of 9,009. The 26-35 age group made the highest level of contact with the helpline at 41.7%, followed by the 36-45 group at 22.9%, and the 25 and under group at 15.4%. These numbers underscore the significant work being done by GamCare and its partners in raising awareness and providing support for those impacted by gambling-related issues.