GambleAware’s Community Resilience Fund impacts thousands across Great Britain

GambleAware has published a report evaluating the first year of its Community Resilience Fund (CRF), a program designed to reduce gambling-related harms in underserved communities across Great Britain.

The fund provided grants to 21 community-based organizations, enabling them to deliver specialized awareness campaigns and early interventions aimed at high-risk groups.

According to the report, the CRF initiative reached approximately 100,000 individuals with awareness messages and supported over 5,900 people in need.

Recipients included organizations focused on supporting ethnic minorities, low-income groups, and those experiencing homelessness. While many of these organizations were new to addressing gambling harms, they were well-placed to reach individuals who may not typically seek gambling support.

Notably, CRF-backed organizations like Big Issue Changing Lives CIC pioneered new strategies to identify and assist people impacted by gambling harms, distributing resources, conducting screenings, and providing referrals to mental health and addiction services.

An independent assessment by Ipsos and New Philanthropy Capital confirmed that GambleAware’s funding bolstered these organizations’ capacity to address gambling-related harms.

Looking Forward: The CRF program will continue to expand, with 11 original organizations receiving additional funding to sustain and grow their impact.

Staff at these organizations reported greater confidence and awareness, resulting in improved early intervention efforts. However, some groups faced difficulties in reaching target audiences due to stigma and the often-hidden nature of gambling issues.

GambleAware’s Chief Commissioning & Strategy Officer, Anna Hargrave, commented: “It is concerning that stigma may have prevented some from seeking help from funded organizations. At GambleAware, we are committed to breaking down this stigma so individuals feel empowered to seek support, and we will continue working towards this goal.”