Spotlight on: Gambling Support Service

Around half of adults in Britain take part in some form of gambling without any harm being caused. But for some people and their families, gambling harms are a serious issue, with wide-reaching consequences.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has been funded by GambleAware to deliver the Gambling Support Service (GSS) across Scotland from April 2022 to March 2025. The project delivers training to frontline workers to help them recognise when people are at risk of, or experiencing, gambling harms. GSS also supports people in accessing specialist support and treatment services and it aims to raise awareness of gambling harms in Scotland.

Training in Gambling Support

How do you identify if a person is at risk of gambling harm? How do you start that discussion with the person in an open and supportive way? What next steps do you recommend to help them deal with problem gambling, either by them or by someone close to them?

The Gambling Support Service offers specialist training sessions to help you answer these types of questions and feel confident in this situation. In almost any advice-giving or welfare setting, there is a unique opportunity to spot the signs of root causes of particular issues. People may discuss financial or relationship issues, but may need some extra support if their underlying problem is with an addictive issue such as problem gambling.

Frontline workers can make a big impact by recognising and addressing problem gambling, and by being well informed on industry support tools and specialist organisations offering treatment and therapy. Giving people access to good quality debt advice and support with problem gambling can significantly increase their ability to manage money and change behaviour.

GSS runs trainer led sessions on Zoom or Teams covering the following areas:

• Impact of gambling harms
• Ways to recognise gambling harms in people, including affected others
• Guidance on using screening tools
• Resources and referrals to treatment services

Training is very flexible and can be arranged at a time to suit you or your team and it can be adapted to a smaller or larger number of people. For CAB advisers there’s also an introductory e-learning module.

Contact GamblingSupport@scottishcabs.org.uk to book a session or for more details.