An evaluation report of Women’s Programme training sessions by the GamCare charity has found that 85% of its latest round of participants improved their understanding of gambling harms.
The evaluation report, produced by inFocus Consulting, detailed the programme’s work across its second year, as it delivered training to 918 organisations across the UK.
The 85% of professionals who improved their understanding after participating in the year two training programme represented an increase on 60% in year one.
After receiving training, 97% of professionals understood how problem gambling impacts women they work with, with 96% of professionals reporting improved confidence in their ability to signpost and refer women to gambling support services.
The Women’s Programme brings together a team of training and engagement leads who have a range of skills and experience from multiple sectors, including health and social care, mental health, domestic abuse and education.
The training aims to improve professionals’ understanding of the impact that problem gambling has on women, which helps in raising awareness and signposting towards support services.
GamCare added that women can be disproportionately affected by gambling-related harms, experiencing financial, relationship and mental health issues. The charity noted that there was a 6% increase in the number of women accessing gambling support in the UK over the past year.
“We’re encouraged to see improved access for women using GamCare’s treatment and support services, and increased reach in our professionals training, which delivers improved understanding of how gambling harm impacts women,” GamCare chief executive Anna Hemmings said.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in the percentage of women contacting the National Gambling Helpline for support.
“At GamCare, we know that stigma and shame are a key barrier to women disclosing concerns, either about their own gambling or someone close to them. The Women’s Programme works to reduce stigma, which affects women at risk of experiencing gambling harms, to better understand and break down the barriers they face when seeking treatment.
“Over the next year, we want to continue to raise awareness of how gambling harm affects women and to signpost the gambling support services available for women.”
