New Problem Gambling Recovery Course Aims to Prevent Homelessness

National charity GamCare, who provide support and treatment to those affected by problem gambling across Great Britain funded by GambleAware, have partnered with St Mungo’s West London Recovery College to pilot a free of charge, rolling six-week course to help prevent homelessness due to compulsion gambling.

Research from Cambridge University in 2014 highlighted that problem gambling was indicated in 11.6 % of the homeless population interviewed, compared to 0.7 % in the general population of Great Britain¹. Recent figures from the Gambling Commission suggest that there could now be as many as 2 million people at risk of gambling-related harm in Great Britain².

The new weekly course, run by the GamCare team, will take place at Redcliffe Gardens in West London from 24^th January – 28^th March 2018 initially.

The course is open to those who want to stop gambling as well as those who hope to control and reduce their gambling. Modules will explore what can lead to problem gambling, how to cope with situations that usually lead to gambling in a different way, how to minimise the harm caused by problem gambling and how to prevent and manage relapses.

Helen Garratt, Interim Head of Clinical Services at GamCare, says: “We know that there is a link between problem gambling and homelessness, however these two issues are often not considered together. We hope that working together with St Mungo’s Recovery College, we can help to prevent problems escalating to crisis point and reduce the risk of people losing their homes.”

GamCare also hope to support organisations like St Mungo’s to screen for gambling problems, to identify risks as early as possible so that help and support can be targeted effectively.

To enrol on the course, call 020 7835 2979 or email recovery.college@mungos.org.

For more information please see www.gamcare.org.uk

ENDS

For more information or accompanying images please contact Catherine Sweet, Head of Marketing and Communications, at catherine.sweet@gamcare.org.uk or on 020 7801 7000.

GamCare – Working to minimise gambling-related harm

• GamCare operates the National Gambling HelpLine on Freephone 0808 8020 133 or via web chat at www.gamcare.org.uk, providing information, advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling. Advisers are available 8am – Midnight, seven days a week.
• Moderated chatrooms are also open daily, and peer-to-peer support is available through the GamCare Forum. For more information on GamCare counselling treatment services, visit www.gamcare.org.uk/free-counselling
• GamCare support and treatment services are funded by GambleAware – see www.begambleaware.org for more information.
• Around 2% of callers to the National Gambling HelpLine in 2016/17 discussed housing problems. GamCare’s Annual Statistics are available at www.gamcare.org.uk/publications
• The St Mungo’s Recovery College is a pioneering, inclusive learning programme, based on the principle that learning can be a transformative experience. See https://www.mungos.org/our-services/recovery-college/
• Call 020 7835 2979 or email recovery.college@mungos.org to find out more.

• See http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/new-study-reveals-scale-of-problem-gambling-among-homeless-population
• See http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news-action-and-statistics/Statistics-and-research/Levels-of-participation-and-problem-gambling/Gambling-participation-and-problem-gambling.aspx

St Mungo’s Recovery College