Support is on offer for Copeland residents affected by gambling issues.
Copeland Council is running an online awareness event, in partnership with The Beacon Counselling Trust, to highlight the impact of gambling.
Representatives from GamCare, Gambling Harms North West Alliance and Cumbria County Council will present to residents the help available in the community.
Professionals from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Society for Public Health will also provide signposting, advice and support.
Gambling-related issues were identified as an emerging concern through the work of the council’s social prescribing team.
The team has reached out to professionals and support organisations to make sure residents are getting the help they need.
Emma Williamson, social inclusion and community resilience team leader at Copeland Council, said: “I’d encourage anyone affected by gambling to signup to the event to find out what support is available to them.
“Gambling, and the effect it can have on people and their families, has been a growing area of concern for Copeland Council, and our partners who support people with debt and addiction issues, for some time.
“When we think of gambling, we tend to think of people going to betting shops, or using fruit machines, but the rise in on-line gaming and bingo apps on people’s phones, has led to more people being affected.
“This easy online access means people can gamble away tens of thousands of pounds at the touch of a button, which can be devastating to the financial and emotional welfare of the individual, and their family.
“There is help out there and we want to make sure our residents know where to go for support without the fear of being judged. We want to encourage people to talk in a safe space, so they don’t have to manage alone.”
Neil Platt, Clinical Director at The Beacon Counselling Trust, said: “A Public Health England report, published in September 2021, identified the North of England as having the highest prevalence of gambling related harms across the UK.
“This conference, organised in collaboration with Copeland Borough Council and other key partners, aims to address gambling issues by engaging with residents, local services and key agencies in effectively tackling this public health issue.”
The event will be held on November 17, from 10am to noon via Zoom.
Residents can find out more and register for the event at www.copeland.gov.uk/social-inclusion. Here they can also access the Social Prescribing Directory for help and support with a range of issues.
