Meet Dina Subasciaki: Our New Project Manager

I am incredibly proud and excited to be joining Fast Forward as the new Project Manager for the Scottish Gambling Education Hub (SGEH).

For over 30 years, my work has centred around supporting children, young people, families and communities across Scotland through prevention, education, advocacy and trauma-informed practice. Throughout my career, one thing has remained constant: I believe people deserve support that is compassionate, non-judgemental and rooted in understanding the realities of their lives. That belief is what draws me so strongly to the work of SGEH and Fast Forward.

Across Scotland, we are seeing growing awareness of the harms associated with gambling particularly how these harms intersect with poverty, mental health, inequality, trauma and social isolation. Yet stigma and shame still prevent many people from speaking openly or seeking support. For me, this is why a harm reduction approach matters so deeply.

Harm reduction is about meeting people where they are, without judgement. It is about creating safe spaces for honest conversations, increasing understanding, reducing stigma and empowering people to make informed choices. It recognises that behind every behaviour is a person, a story and often a wider set of circumstances that deserve empathy rather than blame.

Throughout my career, I have worked with individuals and communities experiencing complex challenges from supporting children and mothers recovering from domestic abuse at Edinburgh Women’s Aid, to leading youth services in North Edinburgh, delivering prevention-based workshops on risk-taking behaviours, mental health, drugs and alcohol, and supporting trauma recovery within communities.

More recently, through my work with Youth Scotland and in private practice, I have continued developing training and support that prioritises wellbeing, informed choice and meaningful participation.

These experiences have taught me the importance of listening first. People are experts in their own lives. Real change happens when services and education are collaborative, accessible and grounded in lived experience.

As Project Manager of SGEH, I hope to build on the incredible work already happening across Scotland by strengthening partnerships, amplifying conversations around gambling harm and supporting communities, practitioners and young people with evidence-based, compassionate resources and education.

I am particularly passionate about prevention and early intervention. We know that conversations around gambling, gaming, online behaviours and risk can no longer happen in isolation. Young people are navigating increasingly complex digital environments, and education needs to reflect that reality in ways that are engaging, relevant and honest. I also strongly believe that reducing gambling harm is everyone’s responsibility. It requires collaboration across education, health, youth work, community organisations and policy.

One of the strengths I bring to this role is a long history of partnership working bringing people together around shared goals to create practical, meaningful and lasting impact. What excites me most about joining Fast Forward is its commitment to informed choice, inclusion and prevention-led practice. These values align closely with my own, both professionally and personally.

I am looking forward to connecting with organisations, practitioners, communities and individuals across Scotland over the coming months, learning from the work already happening and helping to strengthen Scotland’s response to gambling harm together.

Most importantly, I want this work to continue centring people, compassion and hope. Because harm reduction is not simply about reducing risk it is about increasing connection, understanding and opportunities for healthier futures.

Dina Subasciaki
Project Manager, Scottish Gambling Education Hub (SGEH)