GambleAware recommissions the Scottish Gambling Education Hub

17 November 2021

We are delighted to share that GambleAware has recommissioned the Hub’s work for a further three years.

The Hub project has been delivered by Fast Forward since 2018, and will continue to be funded by GambleAware. Our mission will remain to ensure all children, young people and families in Scotland have access to gambling education and prevention opportunities and resources.

Learning from our experience running the Hub

We’re making improvements to the current programme based on what we’ve learned in the last three years. We’ll offer a more tailored approach to gambling harm prevention and education for anyone working with young people and families. We’ll be adapting the structure of the programme, and the way we engage with partners, practitioners, and policy-makers. We’re also launching updated training content and a new updated toolkit.

Given the success of the work we’ve already carried out, we’re also mindful that continuity is vital.

Our work to date

Since 2018, we have trained staff from more than 550 different organisations across all 32 local authorities in Scotland. We have reached organisations including schools, colleges, universities, youth work services, and family services. This has made more gambling awareness and support activities available to young people and families across Scotland.

The Hub has also delivered two successful school theatre tours and one film around the theatre piece ‘Trust Me’ that draws on the views, experiences, and imaginations of Scottish young people. This method of engaging young people truly reflects Fast Forward’s aim of education that is ‘by, with, and for young people’.

Looking forward

We know there is much more work to be done to prevent gambling harm among young people and families in Scotland, and we are excited to play our part. We look forward to collaborating with, and learning from, our many partners in the lived experience community, the third sector, the public health community, and beyond over the next three years.
Our plans include:
  • Delivering a national theatre tour around Scottish high schools in 2022
  • Developing a brand new youth-led theatre piece in 2023
  • Continuing to provide the unique Gambling Education Youth Fund
  • Continuing to facilitate the Scottish Gambling Education Network (SGEN), including hosting the first annual SGEN conference in 2022
  • Partnering with the RCA Trust to deliver a targeted programme around gambling harms in Scottish colleges and universities

The Hub will continue to lead by example, using knowledge, experience and expertise to inform best practice in all gambling education and prevention work in Scotland and across the UK.