UK Gambling Commission calls for collaboration on engaging people with lived experience

“The National Strategy is built on placing the voice of consumers, especially those with lived experience of gambling harms, often referred to as ‘experts by experience’, right at the heart of implementation.

In Scotland, the Health and Social Care Alliance is developing work to create a formal forum for people with lived experience. They intend to kick off this work with collaboration with the very people they want to involve in the forum.

Ahead of this progressing further, and to encourage a discussion about equivalent forums in Wales and England, we have produced a discussion paper to help us all collaborate on the principles and practical arrangements that must be in place to make this work. We also want to build on the measures that are already in place – for example many partners have already taken steps for their organisations to build in the voice of people affected by gambling harms.

The Gambling Commission is calling for collaboration from individuals affected by gambling, family members and friends, as well as those organisations who are experts at bringing in the voice of individuals with experience of harms, such as in the field of addiction or mental health treatment provision.

We are starting with three key principles for discussion, which we outline in detail in the document:

Principle 1: Sustainable and impactful

Principle 2: diverse and representative

Principle 3: Safe, supportive structures and resources ”

The discussion document is available and you can get in touch at [email protected] if you want to stay involved as this work progresses.