News
First short-term residential support for problem gambling
24 March 2009
Kim Hartman, GamCare Partners’ Manager says: “We are delighted to be working with Broadway Lodge in the provision of this important service and expect it to be of significant benefit to anyone across Britain who requires this type of support to help them overcome their problem gambling.
“Over the past 11 years, GamCare has developed its services to meet the needs of its callers and clients. Realising that there was no current charitable provision of this particular type of specialist support for problem gamblers, we opened up discussions with Broadway Lodge with the result that a range of short-term residential options are offered, typically programmes of five to eight weeks duration. Importantly, Broadway Lodge are also able to offer short programmes for family members who often bear mental and physical health impacts as a result of financial and relationship difficulties.”
GamCare provided specialist training for four of Broadway Lodge’s counsellors who will deliver the service.
Peter Smith, Development Director at Broadway Lodge says “Some people find that by being away from their everyday environment in a professional supportive setting they are able to focus on their motivation for their gambling behaviour and address the reasons for it, which is often most effective in helping them to turn their lives around. We have over 33 years experience of providing residential services for alcohol and drug addiction and we value GamCare’s expertise and assistance in developing our gambling services.”
Anyone concerned about the amount of time or money that they or someone close to them is spending gambling can get live one to one immediate advice and support from our advisers from 8am to midnight on our HelpLine 0845 6000 133 and its equivalent online, NetLine at www.gamcare.org.uk. Clients already engaged with a GamCare counsellor can discuss with their counsellor the option of short-term residential care.
GamCare’s counselling is integrative and tailored to the individual’s needs. Reasons for addiction can be complex. Gambling sometimes can offer a means of escape from seemingly intolerable thoughts and feelings and our counsellors employ a range of therapeutic approaches to facilitate discovery of the underlying reasons. Our aim is to stop or effectively manage problem gambling behaviour.
Press contacts:
Eileen Kinghan, GamCare, 020 7801 7003, eileen@gamcare.org.uk
Peter Smith, Broadway Lodge, petersmith@broadwaylodge.org.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
GamCare, established in 1997, is a registered charity and the leading national authority on the provision of counselling, advice and practical help for anyone experiencing or affected by problem gambling. GamCare’s immediate, confidential one-to-one support services, available 8am to midnight, are the telephone HelpLine (365 days of the year) and online NetLine. Also online we have a Forum and ChatRoom.We deliver free face to face counselling at three locations in London, nationally through a network of partner agencies, and online. We train our Partners (experienced addictions counsellors) in treating problem gambling and fund them to deliver free face to face support to anyone who needs it.
According to the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007, it is estimated that 0.6% of the UK population (around 300,000 people) are problem gamblers. Considering that each may have a partner, parents and dependents, those affected by problem gambling may number over one million. The Survey, commissioned by the Gambling Commission and prepared and published by the National Centre for Social Research, provides detailed statistics at http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/UploadDocs/publications/Document/Prevalence%20Survey%20final.pdf.