by Renee Israel
The signing of a deal between GamCare and the GREaT Foundation was
announced this week which will see the gambling support charity run a new
national helpline to assist problem gamblers in the United Kingdom.
GamCare secured funding from the GREaT Foundation - which raises money from
the UK gambling industry - to pay for the research and treatment of problem
gambling in the country.
GamCare and the GREaT Foundation signed a deal after two years of uncertainty
about the former's future.
The grant will be enough to run a national helpline for three years,
beginning this month and ending on September 30th, 2014. A new freephone
service will run from April next year.
GamCare, in return for the funding, will need to provide evidence that its
helpline is assisting problem gamblers.
The Chief Executive Officer for GamCare, Andy McLellan said: "We are looking
forward to working with GREaT in a spirit of renewed partnership to ensure the
continued improvement and expansion of the service whilst also providing
excellent value for money."
"GamCare welcomes the challenges GREaT has set in terms of our continuing
competitiveness and is committed to the delivery of both excellent quality of
services and outstanding value for money. We are confident we will exceed all
expectations."
GamCare Deal Requires Transparency
The Chief Executive of the GREaT Foundation, Marc W. Etches said
about the deal signed between his foundation and GamCare: "The grant agreements
are demanding of GamCare in terms of future competitiveness, particularly in
relation to transparency of performance, evaluation of outcomes, demonstration
of value for money, and commitment to continuous service improvement."
Etches said that a national gambling helpline is an important
element of the support infrastructure for those that experience problems with
their gambling entertainment.
"However, it is equally important that the industry that
volunteers to fund it should be satisfied that its donations are spent wisely,
deliver value for money and maximise effective outcomes for those who require
care and support," he said.
The Chairman of GamCare, Anthony Jenkins, said that his group
has been impressed by the speed in which GREaT has "picked up the baton" passed
to them only last month by the Responsible Gambling Fund.
GamCare is considered the leading provider of information,
advice, support and free counselling for the prevention and treatment of problem
gambling in the United Kingdom.
The group, according to its website takes a "non judgmental
approach" to gambling and develops strategies that will promote a responsible
approach to gambling.
