GamCare Launches Money Guidance Service in Leeds and East Midlands

GamCare has launched a new Money Guidance Service to provide financial guidance to those experiencing difficulties due to gambling loss. The service will be available to anyone across Leeds and East Midlands who has experienced gambling-related hardship.

GamCare operates the free 24-hour National Gambling Helpline as well as free one-to-one support sessions through the Leeds Community Gambling Service and throughout the East Midlands. Services span across Lincolnshire, Peterborough, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Northampton.

The Money Guidance Service will be available to those engaged in support services throughout the company’s different treatment centres, and will provide guidance on spending habits, managing budgets, recognising spending triggers and establishing boundaries in order to invoke change.

GamCare’s service will also be open to those affected by a someone else’s problem gambling and advise them on their rights and improve their finances.

“With a cost-of-living crisis impacting households across the Leeds region – especially off the back of a World Cup, a challenging Christmas period and almost five weeks since payday – we know many people may turn to gambling and end up in a worse situation. This new service will work with those whose finances have been negatively impacted by gambling, sharing day-to-day guidance they can put in place to help them get back on the right path,” Bryn Mostyn, Team Leader at the Leeds Community Gambling Service, said.

“With one in seven people who called the National Gambling Helpline last year doing so due to someone else’s gambling, it’s important that there are services available to support others who are affected. Understanding the financial implications of someone else’s gambling is vital to helping these people in their longer-term recovery. We hope the Money Guidance Service is a way to help people who have been negatively impacted by someone else’s gambling, not just the gambler themselves and help improve their situation,” Nicola O’Neill, Service Manager, East Midlands at GamCare, said.