News
Leisure industry champion appointed to GamCare’s Board of Trustees
30 November 2009
John Brackenbury CBE joins GamCare's Board of Trustees.
GamCare Chairman, Anthony Jennens says: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome John to our Board. I am aware that we are most fortunate to have John’s wealth of experience, wisdom and knowledge available to the Board of Trustees of GamCare to inform our work and our business decisions.”
John Brackenbury is Chairman of Avanti Communications Group plc. Known to many in the gambling industry as Life President of Business in Sport and Leisure, John also has specific knowledge and experience of the casino sector.
He has also demonstrated his interest in education and training at all levels in his leadership of the development of training and skills for the hospitality industry under the People 1st initiative, and through trusteeships of Salford University, the Bradfield College Foundation and the Springboard Educational Trust for disadvantaged children.
John Brackenbury says: “Having been a part of leisure industry for many years I have long been aware of the excellent work that GamCare does, both with problem gamblers and with gambling operators. I am delighted at the opportunity this appointment gives me to contribute direct to the charity’s work and am very much looking forward to being closely involved in the next stages of its development.”
Press contact:
Eileen Kinghan, GamCare, 020 7801 7003, mob: 07535 459 753, eileen@gamcare.org.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. GamCare, established in 1997, is a registered charity and the leading national provider of counselling, advice and practical help for anyone experiencing or affected by problem gambling. GamCare’s immediate, confidential one-to-one support services are the telephone HelpLine and online NetLine. Also online we have a Forum and ChatRoom. We deliver free counselling face to face in London, Manchester, nationally through a network of partner agencies, and online. We train our Partners in treating problem gambling and fund them to deliver support to anyone who needs it. For more information about GamCare and how it is funded, and for problem gambling statistics go to http://www.gamcare.org.uk/pages/faqs.html.
2. 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 tailored to the individual’s needs. Reasons for continuing to gamble despite negative consequences can be complex and 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 achieving long term change.