English Gambling Education Hub Inaugurates with Comprehensive Resources

Aiming to curtail gambling-related harm, the English Gambling Education Hub (EGEH) makes its debut, bringing forward a robust repository of resources. This ambitious initiative is the brainchild of a collective effort involving seven prominent organizations. Spearheaded by GambleAware, the collaboration encompasses names like GamCare, Ygam, and extends to local affiliates such as Aquarius, ARA, Beacon Counselling Trust, NECA, and Breakeven. The program’s reach further expands as it collaborates with Scottish and Welsh Gambling Education Hubs.

Fundamentally backed by contributions from the gaming industry, GambleAware commissioned the EGEH to amplify efforts across various sectors, emphasizing youth services, family support, and mainstream education. The primary objective remains proactive intervention to mitigate gambling-associated adversities among the youth. A remarkable inclusion in this initiative is the ‘Gambling Education Quality Mark’ – a tool schools can harness to instruct students about evading gambling hazards.

As part of its extensive resource suite, Ygam proffers a Quality Assurance Support Package (QASP) to aid organizations in disseminating training to both youth and professionals. Historically, Ygam, alongside GamCare, has championed the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme, which touts an impressive engagement of 24,000 professionals and outreach to over 48,000 youngsters.

For expansive outreach and engagement, the EGEH is rolling out a film contest, inviting participants aged 11 to 25. The triumphant entry will undergo professional refinement and will be showcased in educational institutions throughout England.

Kyle Riding, spearheading programmes at Ygam, highlighted the initiative’s essence, stating, “The synergy of this program fosters centralized support while cultivating a community united by the mission of diminishing gambling harms among England’s youth.”

UK’s Proposed Gambling Levy Takes Shape The Department of Culture, Media, and Sport in the UK has initiated discussions surrounding the instatement of a levy on gambling entities. This levy, as outlined in the government’s gambling white paper, aspires to funnel £100m annually into the National Health Service (NHS) coffers. Unlike the previous modus operandi, where GambleAware played a pivotal role in allocating funds, the new proposal places the NHS at the helm. This shift is driven by the need to bolster independence in the backdrop of concerns over GambleAware’s ties with the industry.