Education and youth

GambleAware has produced materials for teachers and youth workers to help young people understand more about the risks of gambling.

How to address gambling through PSHE education

GambleAware is working in partnership with the PSHE Association to support children and young people to understand, and avoid, risks associated with gambling. The first product of this partnership is a teacher handbook: ‘How to address gambling through PSHE education’.

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Lesson pack: Exploring risk in relation to gambling (KS2)

As part of the partnership between GambleAware and the PSHE Association, materials have been published for teachers working with primary pupils (Key stage 2). We have published two free primary lesson plans — with accompanying lesson slides — which lay the ground for teaching the topic in secondary schools, in which it will be a requirement to ‘teach about the risks related to online gambling including the accumulation of debt’ from September 2020 as part of statutory Health Education.

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Exploring risk in relation to gambling lesson pack (KS2) Lesson 1

The first lesson, ‘Exploring risk’, is designed for any year group in KS2 and explores pupils’ understanding and assessment of risk in a variety of situations. The lesson enables pupils to reflect on their ideas about risk and develop helpful strategies for managing when risk arises.

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Exploring risk in relation to gambling lesson pack (KS2) Lesson 2

The second lesson ‘Chancing it!’, is designed for Year 6 pupils and explores risk in relation to gambling. As young people are increasingly exposed to gambling and gambling-related activity (through gaming, advertising, social media, betting shops, arcades and casinos), it is important that learning about the risks associated with gambling and the effect on wellbeing is included within PSHE education.

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Resources for promoting resilience to gambling: Demos and the PSHE Association

This free resource — recently updated to reflect latest practice and the 2020 version of the PSHE Education Programme of Study for PSHE Education — was produced as part of a collaboration between Demos, the PSHE Association, Mentor and the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and was commissioned by GambleAware.

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PSHE Association: One-page briefings

This set of four one-page briefings from the PSHE Association in partnership with GambleAware covers a selection of key content from the teacher handbook under the headings of: Considerations for visitors when working with schools; Considerations when working with gambling education visitors; Why deliver education around gambling?; What is effective gambling education?

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Podcast: Reducing the odds of gambling harm through PSHE

PSHE Association Subject Specialists Anne Bell and Sally Martin are joined by Dr Elly Hanson — an independent clinical psychologist — to explore current trends regarding gambling harms and young people, and offer insight into how schools and teachers can cover this topic effectively through PSHE.

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Know the Stakes: Parent Zone resources

Parent Zone and GambleAware have published resource pack for parents, carers and professionals, so they can support young people to stay in control of their finances and understand the risks of gambling. To find out more please visit the Parent Zone website and download the free resources at www.parentzone.org.uk/knowthestakes

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Gaming or Gambling: Parent Zone resources

GambleAware and Parent Zone have partnered to help families learn about the gambling-like risks children may face when playing online games - and simple practical things parents and carers can do to keep gaming fun and safer. To find out more please visit the Parent Zone website at www.parentzone.org/gamingorgambling and download the free resources.

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Welsh Gambling Education guidance: Demos and the PSHE Association

This Welsh translation of the Demos pilot intervention in secondary schools across England and Wales with pupils aged 14-15 aimed to teach and minimise the risks associated with gambling and signpost where to go for help and support. These lessons designed by Demos, the PSHE Association, The Mentor Foundation UK (Mentor UK), the CNWL Problem Gambling Clinic and a range of independent teachers/advisers were designed to build up the resilience of teenagers to the risks related to gambling.

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Welsh Gambling Education lesson slides: Demos and the PSHE Association

The Welsh translation of Demos materials for use in secondary schools with pupils aged 14-15 aimed to teach and minimise the risks associated with gambling and signpost where to go for help and support. These lessons designed by Demos, the PSHE Association, The Mentor Foundation UK (Mentor UK), the CNWL Problem Gambling Clinic and a range of independent teachers/advisers were designed to build up the resilience of teenagers to the risks related to gambling.

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Gambling Education Toolkit: Fast Forward

Fast Forward, the Scottish youth education charity, has been funded by GambleAware to develop a range of resources about youth gambling and gambling problems, to help practitioners who work with young people to design and deliver activities linked to the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence.

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How to help someone with a gambling problem

Advice and tips

How to help someone who gambles

Want to help someone with a gambling problem but not sure what to do? Find practical advice and support services below.

Find out now

Advice and tips

How to help a young person who gambles

It can be difficult as a parent or guardian to know what to say to a young person who is gambling. Here you can find practical advice to help you have open and positive conversations with children and young people about gambling.

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Case studies

Adam's story

"I never thought I had a problem. I didn't want to be seen like a gambler and addict. But they're all the things that I was...I think now knowing that I can pick up the phone to someone, or I could reach out to someone and get help straight away…it might have been easier."

Watch Adam's story

Danni's story

"At first I wouldn’t say anything because actually... it's not really my place to say, it's not my money. Then I thought I could help him, but I realise now that's not the case and I should have looked after myself first… I still sometimes have to remember to do that."

Watch Danni's story

Mina's story

"I try and set myself limits to keep it under control. You can sit there and say you’re in control – but sometimes you’re not. Having a spend calculator is really helpful….it visually shows how much you’re spending. You can’t ignore it."

Watch Mina's story

Joanne's story

"I never talked about anything. I wish I had, just saying stuff out loud makes such a difference… I went to group meetings and the more I spoke about my story, the more open I was. And the more I was getting asked questions and getting more involved. It was that that helped me in my recovery."

Watch Joanne's story