Today, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has confirmed the release of a new education and support programme as part of its efforts to raise the awareness of safer gambling on the territory of the UK. The programme, worth £10 million, is developed in collaboration between GamCare and YGAM and is aimed at raising the awareness of young individuals between 11 and 19 years of addictive behaviours, problem gambling and possible negative effects gambling addiction could have on their lives.
The programme is part of the Safer Gambling Commitments package that was announced by the BGC in November 2019. As part of it, 120,000 young people in the UK would be provided by more information on the risks associated with gambling, in addition to the training of more than 100,000 professionals, including youth workers, teachers, community mental health practitioners, etc.
As part of the programme, the two charities that are set to deliver the programme, YGAM and GamCare, have unveiled the aspirations they share about the gambling education in the country. According to the two organisations, all individuals between 11 and 19 years of age, who live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, must receive no less than one session of gambling awareness education during their education.
Apart from that, all professionals, who work with young people, should be given access to information regarding gambling-related harm, identifying it in young people and contact information of centres that provide help to deal with the problem. Also, parents and families of individuals between 11-19 years should have access to information about gambling among young people and protection measures.
Campaigners Have Been Concerned about Young People’s Involvement in Gambling
The last few years have seen more campaigners sharing concerns that an increasing number of young people is being affected by problem gambling and all other risks associated with gambling.
Now, the new education programme is set to extend beyond the individuals that are being directly affected by the problem and be available also to people who could help others to learn more about gambling harms and identifying harmful behaviour.
The Chief Executive Officer of the BGC, Michael Dugher, explained that it was important for the Council, as a new standards body representing the major part of the regulated gambling industry in the UK, to support the initiative. Mr Dugher further noted that educating young Brits about the harms of gambling addiction is vital in order to make sure they are well-aware of all negative consequences they could suffer from as a result of problem gambling.
The new education programme is set to be supported by various materials, which the resources also set to be complemented by video and digital content to make sure that the programme is delivered even throughout the coronavirus lockdown.
- Author
Daniel Williams
