Rugby Borough Council team up with Betknowmore UK to tackle gambling harms

Figures from GambleAware show that around 168,000 adults in the region find that their gambling is damaging them or their family, with Coventry reportedly having the highest levels of adults experiencing the severest harms, at 5.1 per cent of the population.

Gambling is often portrayed as a harmless activity, but for many, it can lead to serious consequences, including financial hardship, relationship breakdowns, poor mental and physical health, and in some cases, involvement in crime.

Addressing these harms is a priority, and Betknowmore UK believe providing a safe space for people to come and ask for help is crucial, with the charity spending two days at Rugby Library on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 June from 9am to 1pm both days, to coincide with a Health and Wellbeing Fair on Wednesday 11 June.

Cllr Claire Edwards, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for Communities and Homes, Regulation and Safety, said: “For too many people gambling can become an addiction that can break up families and ruin lives. These two engagement days are an opportunity for anyone to come along and see what help is available. It’s never too late to get support.”

Cllr Noreen New, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Communities and Homes, Regulation and Safety, said: “It has become very easy for people to let gambling become a habit that is hard to break, it usually starts small but then gets out of control. These community events will give people a chance to stop gambling ruining their lives."

Established in 2013, Betknowmore UK’s mission is to address and prevent gambling harms in the UK and global communities. As experts and independent providers of gambling support and training services, the charity is commissioned to provide a range of national and international services, and works with stakeholders across multiple sectors.

Its award-winning work is informed by the insight and knowledge of people with lived experience of gambling harms, combined with evidence-led health and therapeutic approaches. Services are co-produced, delivered and evaluated to be bespoke and carefully aligned to client and customer needs.

The charity offers three services as part of the National Gambling Support Network:
• Peer Aid – a service where individuals harmed by gambling receive support from Peer Supporters, who themselves have fully recovered from gambling harms and who have received City & Guilds assured training.
• New Beginnings – a unique service, co-designed by women for women experiencing gambling harms, combining bespoke 1:1 and group support, facilitated by women with lived experience.
• Gambling Outreach & Living Support – a service which enhances community resilience to gambling harms by working with local stakeholders to develop a bespoke strategic and operational response, which includes provision of strategy workshops, outreach activities and quality assured training

The Betknowmore UK team will be at the Rugby Library, Little Elborow Street CV21 3BZ. 

To find out more about the charity, visit www.betknowmoreuk.org.