Public Health Wales (PHW) has introduced a new initiative aimed at reducing gambling-related harm in the region, committing £1.4 million over two years to support community-led prevention efforts.
The Gambling Harms Voluntary Sector Grant Fund will provide up to £700,000 ($931,084) annually, with individual grants reaching as much as £75,000 per organization each year. This funding initiative was announced on July 26, with applications set to open on August 31 and deadlines closing on October 19, 2026.
Targeted at voluntary and community organizations throughout Wales, the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) will manage the grant process.
PHW has stated that funds will be directed towards specific public campaigns that aim to ‘de-normalize’ harmful gambling behaviors and implement targeted prevention initiatives, particularly for higher-risk demographics. Additionally, support services for those affected by the gambling of others and innovative strategies for preventing gambling harm will qualify for funding. Priority will be given to groups working with vulnerable populations, such as individuals facing financial difficulties, those within the criminal justice system, and people adversely affected by another’s gambling.
The focus is on projects that deliver long-lasting preventive benefits, raising awareness, utilizing lived experiences, and providing strong evidence of successful interventions.
Catherine Miller, assistant director for grants and income at WCVA, expressed the organization's goals for the funding, stating, "We want the money to reach a wide range of voluntary sector organizations across the country and encourage groups working with at-risk populations to apply."
The program aims to emphasize support for organizations that are directly connected to those most affected by gambling issues, thus filling the gaps in early intervention and prevention. Helen Erswell, a consultant in public health for the Gambling-Related Harms Programme at PHW, remarked, "This program will support organizations closest to those most affected. It will deliver prevention and early intervention, focusing on addressing inequalities and reaching those most at risk of harm."
Eligible entities will include registered charities, community interest companies, voluntary groups, and social enterprises, as long as they operate within Wales. Earlier this year, the UK government announced its own two-year initiative, allocating £25.4 million for gambling harm prevention, funded by a statutory levy on gambling operators that began in April last year.
