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GambleAware appoints new chair of trustees
GambleAware has announced the promotion of Siân Griffiths OBE to chair of trustees as Baroness Lampard prepares to leave the gambling harm awareness and prevention charity.
Griffiths, who has served as the deputy chair of trustees since 2018, expressed her intent to build upon the charity’s recent initiatives as they work towards a statutory funding model in line with the UK’s white paper on gambling reform.
Griffiths said:
“I am delighted to accept this appointment and to continue working with GambleAware to ensure gambling harms are viewed as a serious public health issue. Due to the deeply stigmatised nature of gambling harm, it can be difficult for people to reach out for help. This is why it is so important we take a public health approach, one which recognises the wider societal influences while focusing on early intervention and prevention activity.”
She also noted that GambleAware’s independence from industry remains “paramount”.
The UK’s white paper suggests that the NHS should take over the role of commissioning gambling harm awareness, prevention, and education, which is currently managed by charities such as GambleAware.
Debate has arisen over the impact on smaller charities if the NHS takes over gambling harm services.
Baroness Lampard CBE, who joined GambleAware in 2016 and is leaving on July 18, has led the charity to collaborate more with the NHS, the government, and other third-sector organizations to recommission the National Gambling Support Network. She also transitioned GambleAware to an independent board, giving NHS leaders a say on gambling harm.
Baroness Lampard said:
“I am proud of what we have achieved, and it has been a pleasure to see how the charity and wider gambling harms system has grown over the past eight years. I wish GambleAware and Siân all the best for the future.”
Except the statement she also pointed out that it is “fundamental that statutory funding is provided to address the issue” of preventing gambling harm.
The new Labour government is currently consulting on a statutory levy on operators to fund gambling harm prevention, education, and treatment, which was initially announced by the Conservatives before July’s general election.
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