AFP Issues £2m Funding In an Effort to Endorse Gambling Harm Recovery

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In response to the rising gambling addiction rates, GambleAware has committed £2 million through their Aftercare Funding Program (AFP) to fund 10 organizations across Great Britain to help provide additional support to individuals who have experienced gambling-related harms. 

Britain is the world’s biggest regulated online gambling market, and one of the most liberalized. Unlike more visible addictions, problem gambling is fairly easy to hide, yet nonetheless leaves an estimated 1.4 million Brits annually feeling alone, ashamed and, in many cases, broke. Unfortunately, UK authorities largely rely on addicts themselves to exercise safer gambling habits by self-excluding from gambling websites once they discover that they gave a problem.

The country’s attempts to curb the gambling addiction epidemic have continuously failed, resulting in hundreds of suicides. This is becoming increasingly worrying as the industry continues to grow contributing approximately  £7.1 billion to the local economy and supporting more than 100,000 jobs. 

Equipping people with the tools to get help and the proper care to curtail or halt their addictive behavior is vital. However the challenge is ever present, because while the problem continues to grow, this does not negate the fact that online casinos keep advertising promotions such as free no deposit casino bonuses UK. And, despite the fact that providers do so within the legal parameters, this simply does not nullify the necessity to continue the uphill battle responsible gambling campaigns face.

Organization Selection

In order to determine which organizations would receive the funding, GambleAware conducted a thorough selection process, involving a panel of experts including two members who experienced the hardships of gambling addiction first-hand. Participating organizations were expected to detail how they would utilize the funds to aid individuals' recovery from gambling harm including developing their self-confidence and improving their practical skills. 

Through their Aftercare Funding Program (AFP), GambleAware offered two levels of funding, with smaller or newly established organizations eligible for up to £150,000 while larger more seasoned organizations could secure up to £350,000 to continue to support their work further. In fact, one of the successful applicants Cyreians, a charity which focuses on tackling the homeless crisis in Edinburgh, plans to use the funding to provide one-to-one group trauma-informed support. While another selected organization Acta Community Theatre in Bristol will offer a creative peer support group which will be available for individuals at all stages of recovery. 

Lived Experience Council 

GambleAware launched its lived experience council to support its short and long-term plans. Comprised of individuals who have either personally suffered at the hands of gambling harms or were affected by other people’s gambling habits, the council acts as an advisory board reviewing GambleAware’s activities, programs and strategic development. As such, the council helps GambleAware’s commitment to building a collaborative community in order to develop the best solutions for the communities most in need. 

Community Support

GambleAware set up its Aftercare Funding program in order to provide individuals suffering from gambling-related harm with long-term support to help facilitate a sustainable recovery plan to help them take back control of their lives. 

Research commissioned by the organization and conducted by Ipsos UK and ClearView Research, revealed minority groups are more susceptible to forms of gambling harm than the white British majority, as they use the industry as a coping mechanism to deal with difficulties they face, such as racial discrimination, living in the UK. 

As a response to their findings, GambleAware announced it would distribute £1.2m to 22 organizations across Great Britain through its Community Resilience Fund, which was launched last year following the cost of living crisis to provide support to people from deprived areas who are three times more likely to fall victim to gambling woes that more affluent communities. GambleAware’s commitment does not stop there. The organization has also recently supplied the Gambling Lived Experience Network (GLEN) with a £375,000 grant through its community-based development partner ExpertLink. The grant will cover the production of tools and resources as well as funding research projects which will support GLEN’s future growth. 

Additionally, GambleAware’s funding will also enable GLEN to continue to participate in political discussions and discourse providing their members with a voice.