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GambleAware awarded funding to ten organisations across Great Britain, in order to support long-term recovery for people who have suffered gambling harms.
These organizations have received funding from GambleAware’s PS2m Aftercare Program (AFP). This will help people in long-term recovery from gambling addiction and provide them with additional support so that they can live happy, healthy lives.
After a thorough selection process that involved a panel made up of experts and two people with lived experience, the organisations were selected. The selected organizations demonstrated how they would help people who have recovered from gambling addiction. These included improving mental health, improving wellbeing, increasing employability and confidence, as well as increasing self-belief and self-confidence.
GambleAware’s Chief Commissioner Anna Hargrave stated that it was essential to allow people to get treatment and support in order to stop or reduce their gambling. However, there are fewer details about how this recovery can be sustained for the long-term. Our Aftercare Funding Programme was created to support people in their recovery and rebuild their lives.
“These ten organizations were selected for funding due to their innovative approaches and their ability to reach specific communities. We are excited to see how these projects progress.”
There were two levels of funding available: up to PS150,000 was for smaller, newer organizations or those who are looking to try an approach; and up to PS350,000 was for larger organisations already established that wanted to expand or develop their work.
Cyrenians was chosen as one of the selected organisations. It will use the funding to provide trauma-informed support for the homeless in Edinburgh. It will create a unique approach to building capacity that allows its staff to help people who are experiencing long-term homelessness due to gambling.
Amy Hutton is the Director of Services at Cyrenians. She said that she was delighted to be able to work with the community to address the effects of gambling on people who are homeless. This is a neglected issue that we want to address. We are eager to create a model for care and support that acknowledges the complexity of homelessness while also focusing on the larger principles of long-term recovery.
Acta Community Theatre in Bristol will offer a peer support group for people in recovery from gambling. It is open to all who want to continue their recovery. They will present a series creative sessions using a variety of storytelling techniques, theatre games, exercises and other art forms. This will create a safe environment where people can share their stories and experience.
Oliver Jones, Acta Community Theatre Director said that they are grateful for funding through the Aftercare Funding Program because of the devastating effects problem gambling has on families and individuals. To improve participants’ confidence, social connections, and well-being, we will collaborate creatively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Our approach is based on the belief that people should have the freedom to express their creativity, their feelings and create their own stories in a safe environment. We want to encourage their creativity and give them control over their lives and their decision-making.
