GambleAware, an independent charity, has opened a new £4.3 million funding programme to tackle additional burdens of gambling harm experienced by women and people from minority religious and ethnic communities in Great Britain.
The funding programme is a response to research published by GambleAware in 2023 (the minority communities & gambling harm quantitative and qualitative reports and the women’s lived experience of gambling and gambling harms report).
These pieces of research demonstrate that people from particular groups in society face additional burdens of gambling harm, as well as barriers in accessing services which meet their needs. This fund aims to drive change within the sector by investing in activities which respond to the research recommendations. The overall ambition is to reduce the inequalities which exist relating to gambling harm for women and people from minority religious and ethnic minority communities.
Registered charities and not for profit organisations can apply for a portion of the £4.3 million funding pot with grants of:
- £150,000 for up to two years for smaller/ emergent organisations with less of a track record within the gambling harms sector.
- £300,000 for up to two years for larger organisations or more established projects.
GambleAware is looking to fund a range of organisations including current National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) providers, other current funded partners and organisations new to GambleAware. Partnership applications are encouraged. Where an organisation does not have experience within gambling harms, they are encouraged to reach out to one of the NGSN partners, or alternatively contact the GambleAware team for support.
The funding is for work that addresses the key principles underpinning the approach taken in the programme.
Examples of the types of projects that could be funded, include but are not limited to:
- Tailored support for women or people from minority communities.
- Investing in women and minority community-led organisations trusted organisations.
- Interventions to reduce barriers to access support.
- Projects which focus on reducing stigma and shame, enabling people to recognise their gambling harm and take steps to seek treatment or support.
- Sensitised gender or cultural competency workforce training.
- Network building mobilising communities who can campaign and influence change.
- Strengthening and sharing good practice within the current system to improve access and outcomes.
There will be a Fund Q&A on 9 January 2024 (16:00 to 17:00). Registration is required.
Commenting earlier this month, Anna Hargrave, GambleAware Chief Commissioning Officer, said:
“Our new funding programme is a response to research which demonstrated that both women and people from minority ethnic and religious communities face additional burdens of gambling harm as well as barriers in accessing services which meet their needs. Through the fund we will aim to reduce the inequality of experience of gambling harm for women and people from minority religious and ethnic communities.”
Applications will be accepted from 13 December 2023 to 31 January 2024 (17:00).
