Northern Ireland

Gambling education programme to be piloted at north's schools

Gambling with Lives' initiative is aimed at preventing gambling harm in young people
Gambling with Lives' initiative is aimed at preventing gambling harm in young people Gambling with Lives' initiative is aimed at preventing gambling harm in young people

A CHARITY set up by families bereaved by gambling-related suicides is to launch a ground-breaking new youth education programme.

Gambling with Lives' initiative is aimed at preventing gambling harm in young people.

It will be piloted at schools in Northern Ireland and England before being rolled out across the UK.

Created by experts on gambling harm, academics, teachers, award-winning filmmakers and people with lived experience of gambling harm, it aims to influence the way gambling awareness education is delivered to young people and address the lack of information and help available.

It is based on solid published research about education and awareness raising across other products like drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

It covers basics about gambling including understanding odds, risk and the “house edge”. Crucially, it also focuses on how addictive products work and the methods and impact of industry marketing, which sets it apart from programmes delivered by industry-funded charities.

Northern Ireland has a higher rate of gambling disorder than any other UK region.

The Stormont launch is timely, being held while the assembly considers the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill – the first significant reform of gambling legislation in Northern Ireland in more than 35 years.

Sadie Keogh's son Lewis took his life after becoming addicted to gambling.

"Children are taught about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and smoking; they are told about road safety and sexual predators, but no-one tells them about the gambling industry and its most dangerous products, or the harm that they can so easily inflict," she said.

"Appropriate gambling education could save many lives every year in Northern Ireland, where we have high levels of gambling disorder, and the relevant treatment is difficult to access, when compared with drug and alcohol addiction."

The programme will be launched at Stormont today with opening remarks by Robbie Butler MLA, chairman of the Assembly All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling.

Barry Fennell, Programme Manager for Northern Ireland at Gambling with Lives, said gambling harm was a massive issue here in Northern Ireland.

"Tens of thousands of people are addicted," he added.

"Our new programme has been specially designed to raise awareness in young people of the harm that gambling can cause, opening the door for conversations with them, as opposed to just waiting for the harm to occur.

"We're confident that the programme will help protect many young people."