SBC News

GamCare has announced the launch of its new ‘Women’s Chatroom‘ to provide a safe and confidential online environment for women affected by problem gambling.

The new facility was officially launched on Tuesday 18 July, providing lived-experience support to women seeking help/care regarding their own or others’ problem gambling concerns.

The initiative forms part of GamCare’s treatment strategy as the chatroom aims to connect, support, and enable the sharing of stories between women in similar positions.

On an annual basis, the charity’s National Gambling Helpline assists over 40,000 people, 30% of whom are women.

The chatroom intends to tackle feelings of guilt and shame associated with gambling issues while reinforcing the fact that users are not alone.

It will host semi-structured sessions every Tuesday from 7-8pm for six weeks, each week focusing on a different theme.

Week one is titled Introduction: Gambling & The Woman. It will be followed by Gambling & The Mind in week two..

GambleAware has disclosed the latest expansion of its Lived Experience Council as the charity looks to further collaborate with those that have experienced gambling harms to help provide guidance on the organisation’s strategic developments.

The Lived Experience Council was initially disclosed in December 2022, and two months later it was said that the 12 person panel was seeking fresh additions.

Among these are Megan Vanderson, who is aged under 25 and has been in recovery from gambling harms since 2022 after going into rehab through the Gordon Moody women’s residential treatment program.

Steve Ramsey, who is six years into recovery and has worked with Gambling Commission, NHS Gambling Clinics and The Howard League, also joins, alongside a third member who is to remain anonymous.

“As a young person who has experienced gambling related harms and addiction struggles first hand, I hope to become a voice to raise awareness of the stigma of gambling harms in young people and women,” Va..