In a bid to give professionals and community leaders the right tools to identify and deal with problem gambling, the UK charity, GambleAware has launched a new training program, ‘Gambling Harms Awareness and Support’.
The initiative, which has a budget of over GBP 3 million, will target eight different sectors: debt advisors, faith leaders, social care, occupational health, primary care, criminal justice settings, housing and homelessness and community pharmacies.
The special training that professionals and leaders in these fields will receive should enable them to offer guidance and support. The ultimate objective is to reduce problem gambling in the community.
“Upskilling professionals and community leaders through the new training program will also contribute to expanding the National Gambling Treatment Service provision and promoting a whole-system, community-based approach,” said GambleAware.
This announcement comes hot on the heels of news that GambleAware intends setting up a network of Gambling Education Hubs in England and Wales. GambleAware committed GBP 2.5 million to this project, which will use early intervention and prevention methods to reduce the harm of gambling among children and young people.
The Hubs will offer youth practitioners, teachers and youth organizations tools to increase their awareness and understanding of risks associated with gambling.
GambleAware will also fund Great Britain’s first academic research hub which specializes in gambling harms research.