Working together we can all help reduce gambling harms

Hilda reflects on COPE Scotland's work, led by voices of lived experience and communities, to make a difference in reducing gambling harms.

COPE Scotland has been delighted to work with Beat the Fix, Chatter, Gamvisory, The Machine Zone, the Scotland Reducing Gambling Harms programme, colleagues in public health and many more to explore the impact gambling is having on individuals, families, and communities. We can see what priorities are emerging and what tangible actions we can begin to take together to address this, while recognising macro level change in terms of reform that are also needed.

What has become clear is that no one size fits all, this is an incredibly complicated area which requires change on many levels, and this is not simply about the individual’s behaviour.  We need to understand more about what causes gambling harm and what the conditions were which enabled it to happen. We also need to respect that everyone’s experience is unique, and any support packages offered individuals must reflect their needs.

However, if enough of us work together to become more aware of issues of gambling harms and gambling disorder and create safer spaces for people and families to talk about the challenges they face, then more people may feel comfortable to share their struggles with gambling and seek support and new improved pathways and policies will emerge which will help reduce the suffering caused by gambling.

One issue which arose in conversation was the idea of bringing the shutters down on scratch cards the same as has happened for tobacco and this is something we are interested in gathering more information on to support possible legislative changes in this area.

There are several pieces on the COPE Scotland site which may be of interest on work being done with partners. For example, resources that COPE Scotland has published (this link will take you away from our website) Also, in the Whit’s Happening magazines (this link will take you away from our website) we have a section on gambling harms each month includes an update from an event we co-facilitated with the ALLIANCE in November 2020.  We always welcome new feature pieces, if you have something to share please email admin@cope-scotland.org and we can discuss.

We were delighted to attend a sessions co presented with Gamvisory and Chatter on an awareness toolkit which can be used with GP’s and other health professionals to enable more open conversations to be held around gambling and the need to create that safe space for people to talk about what is really troubling them.  Colleagues who are community links practitioners attended the session and plan to share their learning at practice meetings, which is excellent.

We recognise, its not enough just to recognise someone has an issue, there is also the need to then offer someone something which can help address that issue. We were delighted to co design a Gambling Harms information booklet (this link will take you away from our website) which not only offers some resources to help link people to, but also shares work done so far and tools which can help support conversations in other places around how we can all become champions in reducing gambling harms.

We have also invested £1,500 into the Recover Me app (this link will take you away from our website) and feedback we are hearing from people who are using it suggests they are finding this of value. Please if you know anyone affected by gambling harms let them know of this resource too.

These are only small steps, however, if enough of us take small steps and we connect those steps then we can make a difference. For now, we would be really grateful if you would please read the information booklet (this link will take you away from our website) so you know what is in it and can promote it to others who may find it helpful. Sadly, lives are lost to suicide as a result of gambling harms, we all have it in us not only to become gambling harms champions but perhaps save a life. We can be the change.

“There Is No Power For Change Greater Than A Community Discovering What It Cares About” – Margaret J Wheatley.

If you are concerned about your gambling, or the gambling of a loved one, please visit GamCare (this link will take you away from our website) or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.

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