Betknowmore UK

Thank you to Southampton City Council for having me at the Scrutiny committee inquiry into Reducing Gambling Harm in Southampton this week. I spoke about the important work Betknowmore UK is doing on the ground with Islington Council to reduce and tackle gambling harm. Our ambition from the off was to establish a collaborative evidence – led strategic and operational plan, to co-ordinate action across Islington. Starting with strategy planning days attended by cross department teams, an assessment of local needs and gambling education, awareness and support interventions designed bespoke for the borough. The outcomes of this are now coming to life with 18 Hub Sessions since July and 348 Brief interventions which is exactly the reason why lived experience should be at the forefront of this work and all stakeholders should be involved in a public health approach. We are looking forward to the outcome of the Southampton inquiry and working further with them and other local authorities in 2025 and beyond.

Hello network - would you mind sharing this role for me? It's a good time to join us here at Betknowmore UK as we launch the first Armed Forces Peer Aid model here in the UK - it's the chance to help shape the future for those in the armed forces community that need our help. You get to work with me (I'm very nice) and Matt Blanks (he is very nice) and then the wider Peer Aid team (all completely brilliant). #betknowmoreuk #gamblingharms #volunteering

Every year over 400 lives are lost due to gambling harms. Addiction in the last taboo of workplace wellbeing despite over 70% of people living with an addiction being in employment. Today I had the pleasure of joining some of the Betknowmore UK team to record a podcast with Lisa Walker the power behind their New Beginnings Programme for women. Hosted by Natasha Devon MBE, campaigner and pundit who has dedicated her life to promoting positive mental health, body image, gender & social equality, we discussed everything from the unique experiences of women in recovery to what employers can do to ensure a Recovery Friendly Workplace is embedded in to their wellbeing strategy. I am grateful for the invitation to be part of this powerful women's programme with three remarkable and strong women. #recoveryfriendlyworkplaces #gamblingharm #recovery #womeninrecovery #WellbeingLeadAcademy #WellbeingStrategy #WorkplaceWellbeing #WellbeingatWork

Despite the mizzle causing havoc with my hair it was a wonderful experience attending the Veterans carol service at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. I (very badly) sang my little heart out. Betknowmore UK will be attending monthly veteran drop-ins from January so please do come along to chat - it's a safe space if you want to understand more.

In June this year, we launched our very own podcast! 🎙️We have had a variety of guests, varying from lived experience, through to those working in the industry. Each episode tells a very different story, and we are so grateful to our guests so far to have trusted us to tell theirs. We've already got a great start to our 2025 line up, which we are so excited to share with you all! Please subscribe to our YouTube and Spotify 🎙️ Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eVuWgsTN Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dk_EUB7S #TheBreakevenPodcast

Today we would like to introduce you to Betknowmore UK's GOALS service, also part of the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN). 👉 What is it? GOALS is our Gambling Outreach and Living Support service, providing both face-to-face and digital support to people experiencing gambling harms in London and the South East. 👉 How does it work? Our GOALS team supports people in their own communities, offering tailored 1-2-1 support as well as brief interventions. They also help raise awareness of the impact of gambling harms on communities, organisations and society. 👉 What are the benefits? ✅ Support is tailored to individual needs and circumstances and delivered by a diverse, highly trained team ✅ Recognises that people may feel more comfortable accessing 1-2-1 support within their own community ✅ Also available for affected others who are indirectly impacted by someone else's gambling ✅ Developed with empathy and compassion by people with lived experience ✅ Focuses on improving overall health, wellbeing and quality of life Visit our new and improved website for more information: https://lnkd.in/ewUwZG_P #GOALS #GamblingHarms #LivedExperience #GamblingSupport

“Building the bridge: a once in a generation opportunity to prevent gambling harm” was the theme proposed by GambleAware for their national conference which took place yesterday. And it did not disappoint. It provided a series of really interesting discussion panels and keynote talks, involving a wide range of stakeholders. It was really good to catch up with Robert Mabbett, Cheryl Williams, Ruth Champion Mark Murray, Owen Baily, Sue Acton, Mark Conway, Steve Girling, Richie Paxton, Becky Harris, Rosalind Baker-Frampton, Jon Murray, Monica Shafaq and the Gordon Moody team, Ian Semel, Graham England and so many other colleagues who are dedicating their careers to reducing gambling harm. A few key takeaways for me: ·  It was great to see that this year’s #NGSN spotlight presentation was given by Frankie Graham and focused on the fantastic work that Betknowmore UK is doing in the borough of Islington. It would be amazing to see this work replicated in across many other communities in both London and Great Britain. ·  Speakers and participants alike did not agree on everything, but they all unanimously agreed on one thing: the importance of preserving the huge array of assets, experience, expertise and passion currently existing in the NGSN space – and that for me is absolutely crucial. · Another welcomed common point of agreement - the openness to place Lived Experience at the core of any future system design - came through loud and clear. ·  As Tim Miller, Executive Director of the Gambling Commission, pointed out in his key note - Collaboration and Evidence must be the two key factors shaping the development of the future gambling landscape. ·  I found Alistair Barfield's, founder of Deflect+Protect, energy and presentation on online content trends and parasocial relationships absolutely amazing and inspiring. ·  I found Matt Zarb-Cousin's, co-founder of GamBan, honesty and sharpness of ideas very refreshing. ·  Although I fully agree with Claire Murdoch’s statement, that it is only trough working together, that we could aspire towards having meaningful impact on reduction gambling harms over the next years, I wished for the conversation between herself and Zoe Osmond, and the conference participants to have gone deeper into the specifics of how that togetherness could look like. Overall, a great event to attend for which commendations are in order for Zoe Osmond and her team! #GambleAwareConference2024 #Reducinggamblingharms #NGSN

We are thrilled to share that our Founder and CEO Frankie Graham will be speaking in a keynote spotlight session at the GambleAware Annual Conference tomorrow alongside Cllr Angelo Weekes from Islington Council. Betknowmore UK is working with local authorities on reducing gambling harm via a multi layered strategic approach across different departments such as public health, licensing, community safety and housing. This year's conference theme is 'Building the bridge: A once in a generation opportunity to prevent gambling harm'. There shall be a range of experts by experience and many other leaders and specialists from across academia, health, finance and regulation including the Government, Gambling Commission and Information Commissioner’s Office in attendance. In person tickets are no longer available but you are welcome to join us online (link in comments) from 9:30am on the 4th December:

Our seventh episode is now live! Suzanne has been affected by problem gambling, due to her husbands addiction, and now works for Breakeven. Suzanne openly speaks out about gambling related harms, and how we can help if you are affected by someone elses gambling. Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eRfBHect Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eupu8G2F

This week, we are shining a light on Betknowmore UK's New Beginnings service. 👉 What is it? New Beginnings is a women only service that was developed by women, for women to provide a safe space for those experiencing gambling harms, either directly or as an affected other. 👉 How does it work? Structured group support is provided by a team of highly trained lived experience facilitators. Regular health and wellbeing groups are themed around topics that are particularly relevant to women experiencing gambling harms. 👉 What are the benefits? ✅ A digital service that is available to women across the UK ✅ Reduces isolation and helps overcome the stigma and shame women experience ✅ Provides a safe space and a community of support for women ✅ Recognises that gambling harms for women can be experienced differently to those of men ✅ Empowers women to achieve their goals, both personal and professional Visit our new and improved website for more information: https://lnkd.in/enXU_2Rq #NewBeginnings #GamblingHarms #LivedExperience #GamblingSupport