As a family, we had no-one to talk to. We had no idea where to go for support, nor that a gambling addiction was in fact, a recognised mental well-being disorder. Things could have been so different for our family, ‘if only we knew then, what we know now’. It is with this ‘lived experience’ we hope that your family will also be able to start recovering from the effects of gambling harms.  Knowing that you are not alone and that you have the opportunity to share your experiences in a safe space, with no fear of judgement and with others who have real empathy and understanding makes Peer Support such a powerful tool to help you in your recovery.  Currently all of our meetings run remotely via Zoom which means we are able help and support more people in more locations without any natural barriers to location. Meetings are hosted by trained GamFam facilitators and usually have between 6 to 10 members, with the option of 1 to 1 Peer Support if required.
GamFam offer support through GRA5P – The GamFam Recovery and Support Programme. GRA5P is a structured 5-stage self-help peer support programme, which was designed originally to support those affected by someone else’s gambling. However, more recently and out of increasing demand, GamFam have now developed a programme to support those directly in recovery too.  The GRA5P programme delivers a strong support network so that group members can start to understand the devastating impact that a gambling harms can have. It also offers guidance on how individuals, families and friends can help themselves, as well as practical suggestions for coping day-by-day, to improve well-being and to help work towards a more positive future.
Peer support involves people drawing on lived experience to provide knowledge, experience, emotional assistance, practical help, and social interaction to help each other. It is different from other types of support (e.g., health coaching, counselling) because the source of support is a similar person with relevant experience, it connects people together. Peer support is one way that individuals, families and communities can manage their own health and wellbeing.
Along with our various meetings run throughout the week which are online, we also offer other free programmes. We have Information and Awareness sessions that can take place online or in person, giving a deeper understanding of the gambling industry and the harm it can cause. These can be delivered to workplaces, but also Sixth Forms and colleges. There is also a KS2/KS3 workshop that teaches the links between being online, gaming and gambling, the harms and dangers it can lead to and the the signs to look out for to help others. Furthermore, we now run sessions to be led within the grassroots football community. We have three qualified teachers who lead on these sessions, and all the staff at GamFam have lived experience themselves of gambling harms.
We understand and have unfortunately witnessed first-hand the devastation this illness can cause, and we hope to spread awareness to others and to keep them safe, so that it does not continue into future generations.
