GambleAware Invites Applications for System Stabilisation Fund

GambleAware, a prominent charity focused on gambling harm prevention, support, and treatment, has announced a call for applications for its system stabilisation fund. This move follows the Gambling Commission’s decision to allocate regulatory settlement funding to GambleAware, which will be ringfenced to stabilize the system of gambling harm prevention and support.

Strategic framework

The financial support is aimed at assisting organizations across England, Scotland, and Wales whose funding streams have been disrupted due to the intended introduction of a statutory levy, as proposed in the Government’s Gambling White Paper.

Applications for funding will be prioritized according to GambleAware’s Strategic Framework, which aims to achieve five key outcomes:

• Increase awareness and understanding of gambling risks and harm among the general population.
• Prevent gambling harm among individuals and communities at higher risk.
• Prevent the escalation of gambling harm.
• Ensure individuals and communities have access to a wide range of suitable services.
• Reduce the legacy of gambling harm.

In addition to demonstrating alignment with the Strategic Framework, applicants will need to provide evidence of need, present a clear delivery model and approach, outline potential outcomes and impact, demonstrate value for money, and showcase sustainability.

Need to ensure continuity for ongoing projects

The funding will cover the 2023/24 financial year until March 31, 2024, serving as a short-term measure to stabilize the existing system. The first application round will be open from August 7 to August 21, 2023, with results expected in mid-September 2023. GambleAware plans to have a second funding round open from November 6 to November 20, 2023.

The fund will exclusively support frontline services in Great Britain directly assisting individuals affected by or at risk of gambling harm. It aims to support ongoing projects rather than introduce new areas of delivery, and projects involving charging or payment for services will not be eligible. The funding is not intended to replace the current voluntary construct but to ensure charitable organizations are safeguarded during a period of uncertainty.

Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, emphasized the importance of the statutory levy outlined in the Government’s Gambling White Paper: “We welcome plans for a statutory levy as outlined in the Government’s Gambling White Paper and look forward to its swift implementation. However, this has led to a period of change as industry and the gambling harms research, prevention and treatment sector prepare to transition to the proposed levy.

“Our role as strategic commissioner across the sector means we are able to apply a single overview of the system. With this oversight, we and the Gambling Commission, recognise the uncertainty across the sector, and the need to ensure current projects can continue without any risk of experiencing a funding shortfall.”