GamCare is basking in a milestone achieved after the group’s Youth Programme saw the 100,000th young person attend a training session.
Workshops held as part of the initiative aim to “address the reality of gambling problems among young people”, with a number of common themes subsequently covered.
These include outlining the negative impact that gambling can have on individuals and families, developing an understanding of how gambling operators use advertising and encouraging critical thinking when exposed to such promotions, and raising awareness of the support services available.
These are delivered as part of the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme, which as born courtesy of a unity between GamCare and Ygam.
Jacob, a member of GamCare’s Youth Advisory Board:, noted: “Gambling problems can be difficult to deal with, more difficult if you are a young person. There is a way to tackle these problems and it is very simple: talk about it. Teach if you can, learn if you are able, talking helps us understand.”
The programme was launched in April 2020 and boasts collaboration with a range of regional partners, such as Aquarius, Ara, Beacon and NECA, and trains teachers, youth workers and other professionals to help young people make informed choices about gambling.
In total, it is reported that 25,000 professionals, comprising the likes of teachers and youth workers, have also been trained. This aims to ensure that those in positions of influence are equipped with the skills necessary to address gambling-related issues in the young people they support.
“We are incredibly proud of the work the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme has accomplished in raising awareness about the risk and prevalence of gambling for young people,” stated Alexa Roseblade, Head of Youth at GamCare.
“Equipping 100,000 young people with the facts about gambling, supporting them to make informed decisions and giving them the knowledge of where to go if they need help is a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to keep young people safe.”
