All Bets Are Off: Street League and Fast Forwards’ Scottish Gambling Education Hub Take on Gambling Harm in Sports and Gaming
The new Scottish Gambling Education Hub Work Charter, launched with Street League as the first pilot organisation, aims to create a culture of awareness, prevention, and support around the issue of gambling.
Gambling has become a prevalent issue among young people in Great Britain. According to a report issued by the Gambling Commission in 2022, 31 percent of 11- to 16-year-olds spent their own money on gambling in the past 12 months. This is especially concerning in the sports and gaming world, where the influence of advertising and sponsorship can have a huge impact. This is why Street League and Fast Forward’s Scottish Gambling Education Hub are working together to step up and tackle this issue.
Street League is the UK’s leading sports for employment charity, working with young people across the UK to get active, gain new skills and qualifications, and get into work, education or training. They have been working with the Fast Forward Scottish Gambling Education Hub for four years now, providing workshops to young people taking part in Street League programmes across Scotland, in areas such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, East Ayrshire, West & East Dunbartonshire, and Renfrewshire & Inverclyde.
Street League participants taking part in a workshop in 2019. Credit: Street League
Working with over 450 young people to date, these workshops aim to raise awareness about the harms of gambling among young people, including the negative effects on resources, relationships, and health. They also educate young people on the links between gambling and gaming, helping them recognise gambling-like features within video games and sports that can introduce gambling-related harm. The workshops have been well received by young people, who have been able to engage in open and honest conversations about gambling and its impact on their lives.
Furthermore, all of Street League's front-line staff in Scotland have now received training on understanding gambling harms and links to gaming and sports. This training has equipped staff members with the knowledge and skills to identify and recognise the signs of gambling harms and provide support to young people who may be struggling with gambling-related issues.
Kate Thomson, Operations Manager for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, has expressed her gratitude for this partnership and the support it provides. "We have been working with Fast Forward for several years now, delivering both staff training and workshops to the young people on our programmes," she says. "Gambling can be a real issue in the sport and gaming world, so it's great to have the specialist support from the team at Fast Forward and be able to offer signposting to our young people and staff should they need that. We're thrilled to be the pilot organisation for their new Work Charter and encourage other organisations who work closely with members of the public to get involved."
Francesca Howard, Project Manager of the Scottish Gambling Education Hub at Fast Forward, said: “We has loved working with Street League. Their enthusiasm and passion for keeping their staff and young people informed about gambling harm is inspiring. They were the first organisation to become part of our induction partnership which ensured that all staff took part in our gambling harm training and has proven to be a great success! Now, we are taking on this pilot work charter program together as part of their dedication to ensure that they provide a safe space for their staff and young people.”
It's partnerships like this that make a real difference in the lives of young people. Through collaboration, we can create a safer and more responsible gambling culture for everyone.
About Street League: Youth Empowerment Through Sport
We use the power of sport to help young people across the country get into education, training and employment. Changing lives for the better, we hope to instil the positivity and confidence in young people to achieve their goals. We’re based throughout the UK, creating opportunities and personal development by providing free sports and fitness classes, skills building, CV support, and 1-1 career guidance. www.streetleague.co.uk
About Fast Forward:
Fast Forward provides high-quality health education, prevention and early-intervention programmes across Scotland, from our base in Edinburgh. Our work, which began with a focus on substance misuse and peer education, includes training, consultancy and resource development, focussing on the risk-taking behaviours most relevant to children and young people. https://www.fastforward.org.uk/
If you or someone you know needs support to overcome a gambling issue, please know help is available:
National Problem Gambling Clinic
Phone: 020 7381 7722
Email: gambling.cnwl@nhs.net
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/gambling-addiction/
National Gambling Helpline and Netline
Phone: 0808 8020 133
WhatsApp: 020 3031 8881
Live chat
Email: YoungPeopleService@gamcare.org.uk
Betknowmore Helpline
Phone: 0800 066 4827
Email: info@betknowmoreuk.org