How we can help
In Birmingham, we are thinking differently about gambling by working to prevent and reduce the negative impacts of gambling on individuals, families, and communities.
We have worked with local and national partners over the last few years to improve our understanding of how gambling affects people in Birmingham and how we can best support our residents affected by gambling.
In 2018, the University of Birmingham carried out a rapid assessment review of harmful gambling and how this negatively affects people in the city.
The report recommended that more in-depth research should take place and a gambling summit be held to share best practices. This led to the Birmingham Problem Gambling Summit being held in February 2019, which was co-hosted by the Birmingham Financial Inclusion Partnership and the Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management (CHASM).
You can read more information on the report and key messages from partners who attended the summit.
Since the summit, the Gambling Commission has hosted the Gambling Forum to continue dealing with gambling by bringing together key partners in Birmingham.
Harmful gambling and social housing project with Aston University
The summit proved that there is a strong need to take action on gambling in Birmingham.
To help meet this need, we are working with Aston University to explore the links between harmful gambling and tenancy loss amongst Birmingham City Council tenants.
The goal of this project is to:
- reduce tenancy loss linked to harmful gambling
- improve the support offered to those at risk from or participating in harmful gambling
This is a unique project in the UK as we believe it is the first aimed at people who receive or are applying for social housing.
We hope to show that early intervention, screening, and support can save housing providers and tenants money.
As part of this project, we will create a toolkit for other social housing providers, including advice on the best way to deal with harmful gambling.
Licensing
You can find more information on our role in regulating and licensing places that provide gambling.
Training
There are many organisations which provide training on harmful gambling and how to support people negatively affected by it:
- Aquarius offer interactive training sessions for young people and professionals working with young people
- GamCare provides free training to help organisations provide support for problem gambling, and you can email programmes.team@gamcare.org.uk for more information
- Young Gamers and Gambling Education Trust (YGAM) aim to educate and protect young people against gaming and harmful gambling by offering free City and Guilds Assured Training and resources to people who work with or have influence over children and young people
- The Royal Society for Public Health offers a free online course about understanding and responding to harmful gambling for people who want to provide brief interventions to deal with risks and problems related to gambling disorders.
- the Bet You Can Help Programme offers free first aid training for harmful gambling to services engaging with target groups
Page last updated: 17 March 2023
