GLEN are releasing the following statement following the public announcement last week that GambleAware are now in managed closedown, expected to be completed by end of March 2026.
Our Statement
It is with considerable sadness that we find ourselves acknowledging that the largest single charity operating in the Gambling Harms sector is closing down, and will no longer exist after 31st March 2026.
The introduction of the Statutory Levy was always going to raise questions around what role existing charities and other stakeholders would have to play under the incoming three part commissioning system, chosen as being the Government’s preferred structure for administering and distributing Levy funds.
We find it most regrettable that GambleAware, a charity which has done the most to design, build and sustain a treatment and support framework – the National Gambling Support Network – for supporting those experiencing gambling harms in Great Britain, should now find themselves effectively ignored, defunded, and excluded from giving further input at a time when collaboration and building upon what has been painstakingly built to date should have been prioritised as being absolutely key to transitioning seamlessly and “pain free” into the new commissioning system.
The current transition process is patently not yet at a point where it should feel acceptable to jettison the current subject experts by allowing the single most important charity in this sector to enter closedown.
It was obvious to most with understanding of the sector that following the Statutory Levy being announced what was needed was a carefully managed transition where priority was given to ensuring the current support across all areas of treatment, awareness raising, prevention and aftercare around harmful gambling and its impacts was protected and fully supported “as is” until such a time as the new commissioners had built sufficient internal capacity to be able to carry out full assessment on what currently exists, and to formulate plans for what needs to come next.
While we understand some assurances have been made around existing Treatment provision there has been precious little given to other vital areas.
We find it disheartening to see so many charities, almost all founded by individuals with Lived Experience of the issues of gambling harms, struggling so hard to survive the turbulence this transition has wrought.
And also disheartening to see so many programmes active in bringing awareness of gambling harm to their communities being forced to close.
How is that supporting the greater aim of preventing harm?
In our opinion both the previous and current commissioning structures should have been allowed to run in tandem for a further two years in order to allow a properly managed handover to occur.
Not least this would have allowed time for the new commissioning bodies to build and staff their own future functions adequately.
That this should have been a wise and necessary arrangement can perhaps be best illustrated by the obvious contrast between the speed of adoption apparent in the three new commissioning bodies. UKRI, the new commissioners for Research, have already managed to launch three entirely new strands of research funding aimed at vastly expanding the depth and range of research based knowledge around harmful gambling and related harms. We feel this is indicative of the fact that UKRI already had the commissioning framework needed to support the Levy in place and were therefore able to easily “catch” the “gambling harms ball” and run with it.
By comparison, the appointed commissioners for Treatment and Prevention are having to spend the first part of their active tenure building capacity and attracting qualified and informed staff as they are starting effectively from a non-existent framework structure when to comes to gambling, NHS treatment clinics aside.
In regards to GambleAware as an entity we would like to take time to acknowledge the extensive and unparalleled work which they have brought to this sector.
As a network dedicated to furthering the voice and influence of Lived Experience we found GambleAware to be a willing and committed supporter of that same aim.
We pay full respect to their CEO, Zoe Osmond OBE.
In our opinion it was her appointment which opened the door to Lived Experience being recognised and fully included in all strands of commissioned activity, funded in this space through her organisation.
We also give heartfelt thanks and pay due respect to the amazing staff under her who have been so welcoming of Lived Experience, and who now face personal and professional uncertainty over the coming months.
We sincerely hope that their knowledge, drive and professionalism are not lost to this sector, and that they are able to continue their work in advancing the cause of preventing gambling harm from affecting so many in our society through gaining employment with other stakeholders within the new system.
We have already seen a needless “brain-drain” and loss of professional knowledge and skills available to the gambling harms sector during this transition process and we do not relish the prospect of witnessing even more losses.
This feels like a watershed moment, but just as our network strives to highlight that there is always hope of recovery and better times for all impacted harmfully by gambling we also believe that the future always has potential for positive change and advancement at system and societal levels also.
We look forward to seeing the Levy bring a brighter future for all at risk of harm, and as a network we will be here to ensure that experiential learning, wisdom and knowledge is fully leveraged towards ensuring this comes about.
We thank all who have been part of this sector for the work and commitment they have given, both those who have played their part with GambleAware and also those who have been involved under other banners, and offer our unqualified best wishes for a happy and successful future to each and every person who has been alongside us during part of this journey.
Your involvement and legacy will live on.
Thank you.