National Gambling Support Network has helped 110,000 people in two years

The National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) - a community-focused service designed to boost care and education - has revealed a 50% surge in self-referrals since its inception. 

Launched in April 2023, the NGSN’s rapid onboarding programme has allowed more than 110,000 people to receive crucial help in as little as two days. This is according to fresh data unveiled by the organisation - which details limited waiting times for an initial assessment. 

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In addition to the 50% increase in self-referrals, the gambling help firm has also recorded a 93% uptick in the number of ‘brief interventions’ during its second year. This type of intervention utilises “time-limited conversations” to provide support before issues escalate - with opportunities for further help also available. 

This figure has risen to 21,000 – a significant change compared to the 11,000 documented in previous reports.

Also of note are results for GambleAware’s all-new ‘service finder’, launched in July 2024. Providing contact information, self-referral forms and direct links to imperative platforms, recent data published by GambleAware demonstrates that an estimated 21,000 people have sought help using the service finder product. 

Those who use the service finder - or an alternative contact method - to get in touch with the NGSN are categorised based on the level of support required. Care options include first-time assessments, brief interventions, extended brief interventions, treatment sessions, reviews and aftercare.

Residential treatment is open to those who experience severe gambling harm. This comprehensive and curated on-site facility stands as the highest level of care available through NGSN – and the group’s latest report comprises success stories told by those who received this treatment option. 

GambleAware deputy chief, Anna Hargrave, expressed the potential for in-house education as a result of the network’s second report: “The second year of the National Gambling Support Network presented an opportunity to take the learnings from year one and focus on how we can best support those affected by gambling harms. 

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of people being supported and importantly, an increase in brief interventions and self-referrals, which means we can support people earlier and reduce the potential for further harm.”

Hargrave also gave a nod to future group endeavours, saying: “The expertise within the network is unrivalled and providers play a key role in helping people across the country, whether that be at the start of their journey, or supporting them at the end. We look forward to working with the future commissioners and the NGSN with the integration of the network into the future system to ensure providers can continue offering their crucial services.” 

Joy Allen, police & crime commissioner for Durham, outlined the imperative nature of adequate gambling support services: “It is estimated that there are nearly 500 gambling related suicides a year in England highlighting the urgent need to encourage more people to seek help. In 2023 around 5% of the North East population aged over 16 was classified as an ‘at risk’ gambler, often spending more than they afford and chasing losses leading to financial strain, anxiety and stress.  

An active advocate for proactive and preventative gambling measures, Allen encourages others to do more when it comes to providing adequate backing: 

“In response, and in line with the priorities I’ve placed on tackling gambling harm, Durham Constabulary has signed the National Gambling Charter which commits the Constabulary to providing specialist training for its officers so that they can identify those at risk and signpost them towards support. I urge other organisations to do the same. Collectively we can, and will, do more.”