News
York problem gamblers and their families have GamCare’s support locally
14 April 2009
Andy McLellan, GamCare CEO, says: “We are delighted to be working with NECA in the provision of face to face counselling for anyone in and around the York area. We know that for some our national telephone helpline and online support is effective in helping them to overcome their problem gambling and cope with associated difficulties, while others really benefit from our counselling service. Our help is for anyone affected, including family members.
“Over the past 11 years, GamCare has developed its services to meet the needs of its callers and clients. The most effective way for us to ensure that face to face counselling can be accessed across Britain is by training and funding a network of partners - usually already experts in addictions counselling like NECA.
“We have been working with NECA for many years and value their experience in delivering this service with us. As problem gambling often goes hand in hand with debt, counselling is delivered free to clients.” Anyone concerned about the amount of time or money that they or someone close to them is spending gambling can talk direct and in confidence to an adviser from 8am to midnight on our HelpLine 0845 6000 133 and its equivalent online, NetLine at www.gamcare.org.uk. We take a non-judgemental approach and offer one to one immediate advice and support, as well as information about how to access local counselling and other relevant services such as money advice. GamCare’s counselling is integrative and tailored to the individual’s needs. Reasons for continuing to gamble despite negative consequences can be complex. Gambling sometimes can offer a means of escape from seemingly intolerable thoughts and feelings. Our counsellors employ a range of therapeutic approaches to facilitate discovery of the underlying reasons for the problem gambling behaviour, with the intention of being effective in the long term. Press contact:Eileen Kinghan, GamCare, 020 7801 7003, eileen@gamcare.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 in treating problem gambling and fund them to deliver free face to face support to anyone who needs it. NECAEstablished in 1974, NECA is a registered charity and was founded initially as the North East Council on Alcoholism. The scope of NECA's work widened as problems associated with drugs and solvents became prevalent, and to signify the increasingly diverse range of service provision offered it was decided to change the title of the organisation to the North East Council on Addictions. NECA was one of GamCare’s first Partners; counsellors have received GamCare training and a team of staff working with problem gamblers provide focussed counselling.
UK problem gambling statistics
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.