The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has expanded its communications team with two new hires.
The charity has hired James Matthewson, previously spokesperson for former Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery MP.
He gained extensive experience of handling national press and engaging with political stakeholders through his work with Lavery. He is also a freelance writer, for national publications such as The Times, The Daily Mirror and Huffington Post.
YGAM also confirmed the appointment of Jo Burnham with a focus on marketing and external affairs. Burnham joins from Music Theatre Wales, and brings over ten years of experience working as a journalist and PR professional.
Burnham has written for publications including Time Out and USA Today, and was previously part of the marketing teams for national arts organisations such as the dance-dedicated theatre Sadler’s Wells, and the Brighton Festival, the largest and most established multi-arts festival in England, which usually takes place annually in May.
“I’m delighted to add James and Jo to my dynamic team,” YGAM director of external affairs Daniel Bliss said.
“They are joining the charity at an extremely exciting time as we continue to increase our growth, reach and impact. We are making great progress and the more highly skilled professionals we can attract, the more progress we can make in working with the industry and stakeholders to prevent gambling-related harms.”
YGAM has launched a number of training initiatives this year, including a collaboration with trade union Unison in August, a partnership with Betknowmore UK in September aimed at educating workers in the British gambling industry, and a further programme for general practitioners, also in conjunction with Betknowmore UK, alongside the Responsible Gambling Council and Bournemouth University, which was also launched in September.
As part of 2020’s Safer Gambling Week, sports betting operator Football Index announced it would donate its shirt sponsorships of Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers to the charity, as well as making a £5,000 donation, with a view to increasing awareness around the organisation’s work.
