The Department of Health and Social Care’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has announced that Ygam is set to receive £3m from the VCSE Gambling Harms Prevention and Resilience Fund for the two-year span from 2026 to 2028.
It will be crucial for Ygam to implement its acclaimed programs aimed at education, early intervention, and harm prevention to protect children and young individuals from gambling-related harms throughout England.
The funding has been designated to exclusively assist Ygam’s operations in the South West, South East, Greater London, East Midlands, North West, and East of England, as well as for national activities where local or regional involvement is unnecessary. Significantly, Ygam’s initiatives will keep running throughout all areas of England.
In the last ten years, Ygam has developed extensive experience and knowledge by collaborating with schools, families, and communities, positioning itself as the foremost authoritative voice and setting standards in preventative education.
Through thorough, CPD accredited training and a vast collection of resources, Ygam equips trusted adults in influential or caregiving roles, including teachers, parents, and youth workers, with the knowledge, tools, and assurance to take significant steps to protect and support children and young individuals.
Since 2014, Ygam has educated more than 39,000 participants and impacted approximately 6.5 million children and young individuals throughout the UK.
Emily Tofield, Chief Executive of Ygam, said: “Our evidence-led programmes, which are grounded in a public health approach and informed by lived experience, have already reached and safeguarded millions of children and young people across the UK. This funding will enable us to continue to build on our deep and proven track record of delivering measurable impact in the gambling harms prevention field, supported by independent evaluation.
Education will always have a central role to play in effective prevention strategies, and this funding will contribute to ensuring the next generation is equipped with the knowledge, skills and understanding to be resilient to the potential risks and harms of gambling. We look forward to working alongside OHID, the Government and other stakeholders committed to our shared goals.”
This funding is part of the first tranche to be distributed under the new statutory levy introduced by the Government, which applies to all licensed gambling operators in Great Britain. The levy has raised £120 million in its first year, which will be allocated across research, prevention and treatment to address gambling-related harms.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has been appointed as the commissioning body for prevention, with 30% of the levy funding allocated to this strand.
