Surrey’s Bridge the Gap Program Receives £300K to Combat Gambling Harm

A new grant will support women affected by problem gambling in Surrey, the UK, playing a key role in their recovery and support. The £300,000 grant from the leading gambling harm prevention and treatment charity, GambleAware, will directly benefit Surrey County Council’s Bridge the Gap program.

The grant will be used over the next two years, allowing vital treatment and support for women struggling with gambling harm and addiction. The program provides long-term support for approximately 16 women every year. Another 30 women affected by problem or at-risk gambling will also benefit from recovery support thanks to a peer network of workers with lived experience.

Besides gambling harm, the Bridge the Gap program helps women affected by domestic abuse, health issues or ones who are at risk of being homeless.

To ensure the effectiveness of the treatment and support, the program will closely collaborate with Surrey County Council’s Public Health Service. Moreover, the program will benefit from support from Gamcare.

Collette Le Van-Gilroy, Bridge the Gap’s senior program manager, spoke about the importance of the grant from GambleAware and the difference it will make for women in Surrey. “By partnering with Gamcare we aim to provide comprehensive support that meets both the immediate and long-term needs of these women,” she added. Finally, Van-Gilroy said: “Our goal is to create a resilient, recovery-focused community network that empowers women to overcome their challenges.”

“The award from Gamble Aware is a significant step in addressing the challenges faced by women in Surrey.“

Collette Le Van-Gilroy, senior program manager for Bridge the Gap

Gambling Can Have a Devastating Effect

Nat Adams, a recovered gambling addict and former sports coach, played a vital role in the recently awarded grant. She spoke about the impact of gambling that pushes some people into taking their lives across the UK every day. “Unlike drug or alcohol addiction, gambling lacks sufficient support, often forcing people to travel long distances for face-to-face support groups,” added Adams.

“The effects of gambling can be devastating, with a suicide occurring every day in the UK as a result of gambling.“

Nat Adams

She acknowledged the excitement of seeing the Bridge the Gap program secure the grant from GambleAware. Adams added that there were 154 bidders in total and only 24 winners. “We are looking forward to supporting women as they take the next step in their recovery journey,” she explained in conclusion.

Recently, a study published by GambleAware, uncovered that marginalized people can use gambling as a way to cope with social exclusion. Per the study, such people are affected by migration-related stress, loneliness and anxiety which puts them at risk of problem gambling.