On Wednesday 14th August several members of the Beacon Counselling Trust team attended the ‘Introducing the National Gambling Support Network’ conference hosted by fellow network member Breakeven in Harlow. The conference aimed to raise awareness of gambling harms and the wealth of support available for anyone affected in the South East and was attended by a number of key stakeholders from the area, alongside a number of members of the National Gambling Support Network.
The keynote speaker for the day was BCT Clinical Director Neil Platt who highlighted some of the challenges the network face, how those challenges can be met head on, recognising the importance of organisations within our local systems who are the most likely to encounter individuals experiencing harms, and what they can do to support their local communities.
Our Families Intervention Worker, Nicola Jaques was part of a panel focusing on the role of lived experience as a critical aspect of reducing harm, raising awareness and informing existing treatment and support providers. Whilst our Engagement Lead, James Callaway gave an overview of two key programmes BCT have had great success in their engaging local systems work, the Workplace Charter to Reduce Gambling Harms and the Bet You Can Help Programme.
BCT also hosted a stall to promote their various programmes and throughout the day spoke to a number of stakeholders about the amazing work going on in the North West.