A Gambling Education Framework has been published setting out a set of evidence-based principles to deliver effective gambling education for children as young as seven-years-old.
Gambling Commission figures show that 55,000 11 to 16-year-olds are now classified as problem gamblers in the UK, with another 87,000 classified as “at risk”.
The figures also show that as many as 350,000 11 to 16-year-olds spend their own money on gambling in any given week.
The education framework is aimed at supporting the education of pupils aged from seven upwards and has been launched jointly by the charities GamCare, YGAM, and Fast Forward. It is aimed at schools and other people working with children, young people, and young adults.
It has been written in conjunction with the Gambling Prevention Education Forum, which includes organisations either delivering gambling prevention education to children or training practitioners to do so. The principles have also been produced in consultation with the PSHE Association and are free of industry funding or influence.
This framework was informed by an initial literature review of evidence in the field of gambling prevention and education, as well as assessment of well-established evidence and transferable learning from the field of substance use prevention.
YGAM is an education charity which works in partnership with Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme. Launched in 2020, the programme provides education and training for young people and the professionals who support them.
GamCare provides advice, support and information for anyone harmed by gambling, and operates the National Gambling Helpline.
Based in Scotland, Fast Forward runs the Scottish Gambling Education Hub which is a preventative and educational programme addressing youth gambling and gambling harms.
Anna Hemmings, chief executive at GamCare, said: “The framework will support professionals to raise the conversation about gambling harms and ensure education on this issue gains parity with education about other risky behaviours.”