July 17th saw an announcement by GamCare that Alexa Roseblade will serve as the charity organisation’s new Chief of Staff. This news was followed by GamCare’s Matt Burgiss encouraging those who might be facing gambling harm difficulties after the end of the European football championship to reach out.
Roseblade has served as manager of the Children and Young People’s Team for the past four years, with GamCare putting an emphasis on her role in the success of the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme (YPGHPP). According to GamCare, the YPGHPP has provided UK youth with support services and a wealth of information, and 133,000 young people have been able to participate in YPGHPP workshops in the four years Roseblade has helmed the programme.
GamCare’s Executive Chair, Margot Daly, commemorated the occasion and said she was looking forward to seeing Roseblade’s expertise help GamCare in its efforts to address gambling harm among UK residents. Roseblade also issued a statement, saying that she has seen how GamCare’s staff has worked toward delivering crucial help to those in need. She highlighted GamCare’s helpline and treatment services, as well as the programmes centred around education and prevention of gambling harm.
Roseblade’s rising to the position of Chief of Staff marks another major change in GamCare’s leadership, with the charity recently appointing Tim Hodgetts as Director of Clinical Operations. He will be in charge of managing the charity’s regional treatment services, the National Gambling Helpline, and more. He has more than 22 years of experience in the UK’s health sector, and he used to serve as Deputy Director for Integrated Care Services with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust prior to becoming a member of the GamCare team.
GamCare Implores Those Struggling With Gambling Harm to Reach Out Following This Year’s Euros
As reported by PA Media’s Josie Clarke, Development Management for the National Gambling Helpline Matt Burgiss has spoken about how many bettors are likely to turn to other forms of gambling now that the Euros have ended. Back in 2021, the charity noted that 10% more calls were made after that year’s Euros ended, and there are concerns that 2024’s championship conclusion will also lead to an increase in gambling harm that would necessitate people seeking assistance. An emphasis was made on how individuals who might be at high risk are young adults whose European championship bets were their first experience with gambling. They, GamCare warned, could give remote casino gaming a try and thus engage in riskier gambling behaviour.
Burgiss explained how, when he was a teenager, his own gambling issues began with football betting. Although problems did not emerge immediately, this quickly changed as he found himself playing casino games online to an extensive degree, which rapidly progressed into an addiction. “It nearly cost me my life,” he stressed.
As he himself has struggled with both addiction and difficulty with reaching out, he explained how managing to seek out gambling health services helped him recover and encouraged those who might be struggling to get in contact with GamCare’s experts. He finished by saying that GamCare is ready to answer calls around the clock, any day of the week, and that help can be provided from a trained practitioner or via TalkBanStop.
- Author
Daniel Williams
