BetBlocker founder Duncan Garvie has confirmed his organisation has received funding from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) as part of the new statuory levy model.
The announcement sees BetBlocker become the first research, education and treatment (RET) body to confirm receipt, after OHID issued offers last week.
Organisations had until this week to accept the respective offers. EGR revealed last week some bodies that had not received funding were facing potential closure.
Garvie initially confirmed the funding in a LinkedIn post today, where he responded to questions from a Guardian journalist regarding the funding allocation.
Speaking directly to EGR, Garvie said that while it was positive to receive the funding, the process had left some organisations in the sector operating in “suspended animation”.
He remarked: “BetBlocker is very pleased, and relieved, to have certainty around the funding of the service in the UK over the next few years.
“As part of our application to OHID, BetBlocker was required to clearly roadmap how the organisation would adapt to meet the restrictions the funding commissioner has put in place around industry influence.
“OHID’s approach was robust, and BetBlocker has agreed to make significant organisational changes over the coming months to ensure the service meets the high bar required.”
The migration to the new levy funding system has been “a substantial shock to the harm-minimisation ecosystem” and caused tension among stakeholders, Garvie admitted.
“All the organisations in the space have been operating in suspended animation while the funding process has been undertaken, and politics has resulted in conflicts between support agencies,” he said.
Garvie went on to note the need for the sector to pull together in light of the funding decisions, with supporting those end users suffering from gambling-related harms being the ongoing priority.
He continued: “It’s critical we start the work of putting these fractures aside, build cooperation and communication, and start properly planning what the coming years will deliver now that we have financial certainty.
“There also should be an outpouring of support for those organisations that were unsuccessful in their applications. Many of them undertake valuable work, and we as a sector should do what we can to ensure that expertise is nurtured and preserved.”
BetBlocker is a UK-registered charity that provides gambling blocking software free of charge to individuals.
The organisation’s website states it has blocked more than 335,000 gambling sites and more than 1,500 apps for its users.
OHID replaced GambleAware as the commissioner in England as part of the shift from the voluntary to statutory levy.
With the statutory levy commissioners operating on a devolved basis, the Scottish government has announced £7.9m has been handed out to organisations.
The RCA Trust received the largest funding package at £1.07m. The monies will be used to extend “evidence-based services including counselling, group work and rehabilitation across Scotland, reaching veterans, prisoners and Alcohol and Drug Partnerships”.
Public Health Scotland will receive £967,000 to fund “data and surveillance systems” and strengthen the “national capacity to prevent and reduce gambling harm”.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been awarded £926,000, while Fast Forward secured £561,000.
Jenni Minto, Scotland’s public health minister, said: “Gambling harm is a significant issue for too many people in Scotland who are living with it.
“It affects not only people who gamble but also their families, relationships, communities and wider society.
“We are already working hard with partners on reducing this and these awards are a major step forward. This funding will help support a range of projects and programmes for people dealing with what is often a hidden issue.
“The funding provides a balance across the third sector, including community and voluntary sectors, and services provided through the NHS and local authorities.
“We will also continue to work with Public Health Scotland to explore how people experiencing gambling-related harms are able to access the right support and treatment.”
The post Details emerge on statutory levy recipients in England and Scotland first appeared on EGR Intel.
BetBlocker becomes first organisation to announce it has received funding from OHID, while the Scottish government publishes full list of recipients for £7.9m pool
The post Details emerge on statutory levy recipients in England and Scotland first appeared on EGR Intel.