Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Network

Y&H ADPH Gambling-Related Harm Funded Programme 2021-24

In September 2021, a 3-year programme to prevent and reduce gambling-related harms commenced following a successful bid for funding to the Gambling Commission*. This programme of focused and evaluated activity is led by Y&H OHID on behalf of Y&H ADPH.

Please find below a summary and corresponding links outlining the key areas of work completed so far:

• Lived experience insight (July/August 2022): This work (led by Mustard Market Research) spoke to those with lived experience of gambling harms to understand what influences gambling, how gambling risk is perceived, and where people might go if they need help. The sample included men who gamble frequently under the age of 44 (due to increased risk of harm in that group) and people affected by someone else’s gambling. Findings can be found in this animation.

• Reviewing gambling information and support resources - 'mapping review' (April 2023): A review of online gambling harms sources of information and support took place to identify areas of best practice. A write up of the findings including suggested recommendations for improvement can be found in this report. 

          (please note since the publication of this report there is a new NHS Northern Gambling Service website found here)

• 'Where do people look for their health information?' A literature review summary (June 2023):  A literature review was undertaken to understand where people affected by gambling harms are most likely to go to to find support and information when in need. This was conducted to learn more in existing literature about what people find to be a trusted source (and why), which may be useful in the future when sharing gambling harms support and health information to make sure it reaches those who need support. Please read a summary of the findings and recommendations here.

• Multimedia marketing campaign (‘Gambling Understood’) and evaluation (September 2023 - January 2024): This campaign ran from September 2023 to January 2024. The 2-phase campaign was aimed mainly at men under 34 who gamble, but was relevant to wider audiences and anyone experiencing gambling harms. The first phase of the campaign (Burst 1) explored the influences to gamble and the risks of gambling products with an aim to encourage discussion and help decrease the stigma and shame associated with harm. The second phase (Burst 2, which commenced on 11th December 2023) focused on how gambling can affect anyone and encourages people to seek further advice and support via links to key support services. The University of Nottingham are currently evaluating the campaign to assess changes in gambling risk perception and intention to seek help and support.

          A report and summary of this campaign is available. Please email Simone Arratoonian (simone.arratoonian@dhsc.gov.uk) to request access.

• If you are running a gambling harms campaign in your local area and would like some materials to support, please feel free to include the resources from the Gambling Understood website which can be downloaded here (under 'Burst 1 and Burst 2'), crediting 'Association of Directors of Public Health Yorkshire and Humber'.

 

• 'Words can hurt': a language guide for gambling harms (February 2024): This ‘Words can hurt’ language guide for communicating about gambling harms is a resource created by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in collaboration with ADPH Yorkshire and the Humber (aligning to this programme in creating communications guidance for local authorities) and ADPH North East as part of work to prevent and reduce gambling harms and work independently from the gambling industry. This guide was created to combat the ‘individual responsibility’ narrative that is often used by the gambling industry, which is stigmatising for those who may be seeking help and advice for gambling harms.

  The guide can be used as a tool for anyone working in preventing gambling harms to double check language choices on publications, reports, websites and strategies (as examples) to ensure language is not stigmatising and frames harm from a population health approach, and may also be useful for those having conversations with individuals experiencing gambling harms, ensuring they are conducted using respectful and sensitive language. 

• Development of a gambling harms training package (ongoing): A training programme is in development which has been informed by a regional assessment of training needs (a survey circulated to the region in June 2023). These online sessions aim to increase awareness and understanding of gambling-related harms and guide staff to have sensitive conversations and signpost, or refer to support. Working with our local authority partners and services across the region, this will be available to key frontline staff in communities who may encounter people affected. Delivery of the pilot will begin in early 2024, and following assessment of training outcomes, should lead to further rollout.

 

Further information will be added as this programme develops. 

 

* ADPH Yorkshire and Humber have received funding in the form of a regulatory settlement from a UK gambling operator to support this programme of work. Regulatory settlement funds are payment in lieu of a financial penalty the Gambling Commission might otherwise impose for breach of a licence condition. The project remit was approved by the Gambling Commission with no involvement of the UK gambling operator. There has been no gambling industry involvement in any part of this research or the related programme. More information on this type of funding can be found here: What are Regulatory Settlement funds? (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)

For further information, please email:

Simone Arratoonian, Health and Wellbeing Programme Manager: Simone.Arratoonian@dhsc.gov.uk

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