The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has partnered with Unison to launch an initiative aimed at equipping union members in the UK with valuable training on gambling and its associated harms.
This effort is part of the National Gambling Education Programme, a £10.0 million project supported by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). YGAM is offering complimentary workshops and resources to those who work with or care for young people.
The workshops will include essential information on gaming and gambling in the UK, alongside materials designed to help Unison members protect young individuals from gambling-related harm. Resources will include lesson plans, activities, signs to watch for, and guidance on accessing support.
Unison, which serves over 1.3 million members, has arranged for YGAM to conduct several national sessions, with plans to follow these up with regional training sessions through its education teams throughout the UK.
Teresa Donegan, Unison’s head of learning and organising, expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "We are really pleased to have developed this relationship with YGAM; their training and resources are really excellent and will be an invaluable resource to our members to support them in their work with young people across public services."
YGAM's operations director, Kev Clelland, emphasized the importance of the resources in meeting the needs of practitioners and young people, noting, "It is very clear from these conversations that the workers that Unison represents need and appreciate our resources more than ever. YGAM’s vision is for all young and vulnerable people to be safe from gaming and gambling related harms and this collaboration will help us reach thousands of young people to raise awareness of the potential risks of gambling and gaming related harm."
This partnership follows YGAM’s recent collaboration with research teams from Newcastle and Loughborough Universities, which launched the Parent Hub last month. This new portal is designed to inform parents and caregivers about the risks associated with loot boxes, offering resources, information, and activities to help safeguard children online.
