GamCare charity has released an evaluation report of Women’s Programme training sessions and found that 85% of its latest round of participants improved their understanding of gambling harms. The evaluation report was produced by inFocus Consulting, and it detailed the programme’s work across its second year, delivering training to 918 organisations across the UK.
The 85% of professionals was a 60% increase from year one. After receiving training, 97% of professionals understood how problem gambling impacts women they work with. 96% of professionals reported improved confidence in their ability to refer women to gambling support services.
As new online casinos increase, including many new online casinos UK, problem gambling is also on the rise. Many casinos offer a dedicated section on their website towards responsible gambling. One of the top measures that online casinos tend to implement is a budget setting scheme so that players do not go overboard when gambling online. Gamblers are encouraged to never chase their losses and/or gamble more than they are willing to lose. Gamblers are also encouraged to never look at gambling as a means to make money but rather as a form of entertainment. However, sometimes gamblers need a bigger push to realise that they need to slow down on their gambling activities and seek out help.
The Women’s Programme is made up of a team of training and engagement leads who have a range of skills and experience from different sectors, including mental health, health and social care, domestic abuse, and education.
This training aims to improve professionals’ understanding of the impact that problem gambling has on females, while also raising awareness towards its support services.
GamCare also added that women can be affected by gambling-related harms such as financial, mental health issues, and relationship problems. The charity also noted that there was an increase of 6% in the number of women who started accessing gambling support in the UK over the past year.
GamCare, chief executive Anna Hemmings claims that ‘We’re encouraged to see improved access for women using GamCare’s treatment and support services, and increased reach in our professionals training, which delivers improved understanding of how gambling harm impacts women. Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in the percentage of women contacting the National Gambling Helpline for support.’
Hemmings continues, ‘At GamCare, we know that stigma and shame are a key barrier to women disclosing concerns, either about their own gambling or someone close to them. The Women’s Programme works to reduce stigma, which affects women at risk of experiencing gambling harms, to better understand and break down the barriers they face when seeking treatment. Over the next year, we want to continue to raise awareness of how gambling harm affects women and to signpost the gambling support services available for women.’
Founded in 1997, GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling problems and harms. The charity operates the National Gambling Helpline, provides treatment for anyone who is harmed by gambling, creates awareness about safer gambling and treatment, and encourages an effective approach to safer gambling within the gambling industry.
The charity works with staff and service users to identify four major strategic ambitions which will drive their work forwards in pursuit of our mission. They strive for gambling harms to be widely recognised and prevented, for universal access to effective tools and support, for universal access to caring, evidence-led and integrated treatment and for their charity work to be trusted, valued and effective.
GamCare offers a number of helplines, live chats, forums, chatrooms, and face-to-face treatments around a variety of locations in the UK.
