tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135980104987654726.post5695033356248864178..comments2024-03-23T07:03:33.193+00:00Comments on Regulus Blog: Responsible gambling - compulsion or conscience?Regulus Partnershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09074060443669315189noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9135980104987654726.post-70910658632435794502014-11-20T23:08:28.386+00:002014-11-20T23:08:28.386+00:00I had the pleasure of meeting Dan this week and as...I had the pleasure of meeting Dan this week and as both a former 'problem' gambler and a Third Sector leader wanting to establish a new not for profit organisation to advocate safe and responsible gambling to young people, I must say I do think Dan talks a lot of sense in this blog. <br /><br />Having worked in the Third Sector for over 23 years, it has been (and is still going through) huge change. There continues to be a lack of funding given Government cuts and charities are now having to look at ‘new’ ways of raising income (from social investments, selling services and collaboration with other charities). There is a growing body of evidence around public distrust among things like Charity Chief Executive pay and a frustration of the amount of charities in the UK that help overseas beneficiaries. Furthermore there is a growing problem in the sector that the vast majority of Trustee’s whom support charities are all aged 54yrs or older and all too often do not engage with beneficiaries directly.<br /><br />I have witnessed the Third Sector embrace many of these challenges well. Dan’s two-point solution did resonate with me in particular. Putting a ‘human face’ to problem gambling is absolutely key. Some Third Sector organisations and in particular those I led had beneficiaries as Charity Trustees and non-executive Directors. As I led the work of charities that worked with young people, our Board dynamic changed hugely when a couple of young people were sat around the top table in the board room. I believe this led to more informed decisions being made and ensured that the wider Board members were having regular ‘exposure’ to beneficiaries. This helped to keep our Board meetings ‘real’ and highly engaging.<br /><br />Dan’s second solution around a forum is something that the Third Sector is absolutely accustom too. We needed as a sector to collaborate in order to win funding, principally driven by this is what funders were demanding. With reluctance at first but once that was all worked through the actual winners of these ‘forced marriages’ in some cases were the beneficiaries. Charities coming together, sharing expertise and creating a joined up product or service, meant a more cost effective intervention. An example of this would be what I am doing now. The Young Gamblers Education Trust that I founded a few weeks ago (which is all about education around safe and responsible gambling for young people) is working with another organisation called Betknomore UK. Their focus is more on Peer to Peer mentoring and working with young problem gamblers themselves. Obviously our organisations coming together with a join proposition, creates a more impactful and joined-up solution.<br /><br />If we think of beneficiaries in this context as ‘problem gamblers’, adopting Dan’s two-point solution, along with all the other work around responsible gambling in the sector then we may be able to make an impact and one the public would trust and have confidence in. Do read more about the Young Gamblers Education Trust on our website and my own journey www.younggamblers.org.uk.<br /><br />Lee Willows<br />Lee Willowshttp://www.younggamblers.org.uknoreply@blogger.com