The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has started a new training alliance with national sports charity ‘StreetGames’ and Yorkshire Sport Foundation (YSF) with the aim of preventing gaming and gambling-related harm to young people.
By offering bespoke training sessions, YGAM aims to raise awareness and educate future generations of the potential risks and consequences. The training programme will also ensure that the wider networks working with both StreetGames and YSF can take advantage of the same knowledge and resources about gaming and gambling related harms.
YGAM supports community-based organisations working with young and vulnerable people to help identify some of the warning signs of harm and understand what age-appropriate support is available.
Sam Starsmore, YGAMs’ National Education Manager, has been focusing on delivering the charity’s accredited training and support to sports organisations across the country. Speaking about building a relationship with StreetGames and YSF, he said: “Working with sports clubs and groups is a natural progression for YGAM and something we have been making progress on for some time. There is a clear alignment in our values and mission, to safeguard children and ensure each young person gets a healthy start in life.”
“Since we first began working with StreetGames and YSF, we have seen just how passionate both organisations are about the work they are doing. To have them supporting YGAM’s objectives and taking the steps to utilise our training and resources is great news for the young people and their families who make use of their services.”
Halima Khan from StreetGames commented on the partnership saying “We are looking forward to supporting YGAM and working with YSF in the Yorkshire region, on an issue which too often has a real and detrimental impact on communities. Ensuring the safeguarding of young people is a key area of work for StreetGames and using sport as a driver for these conversations can be a great way to engage openly and honestly with trusted community organisations. We hope this training will help raise awareness of the potential issues caused by gaming and gambling, as well as offering ways to prevent the harm this can cause.”
Gillian Brown, Safeguarding Lead for Yorkshire Sport Foundation added; “ The safety and welfare of young people is of utmost importance to Yorkshire Sport Foundation, and we are committed to working with local sports clubs and organisations to raise awareness of issues that can affect young people. We hope through our involvement, we can spread the messages and help to reduce the harm caused to young people through gaming and gambling.”
In partnership with GamCare, YGAM are delivering the ‘Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme’ supported by members of the Betting & Gaming Council. YGAM are providing free accredited workshops and resources to anyone who works with or cares for young people to raise awareness of the risks of potential gaming and gambling related harms.
