Guernsey Press

More help to be given to drug and gambling addicts

NEW helplines and increased counsellor training are among the items which money from Home Affairs will help fund.

Published
Last updated

The States’ Trading Supervisory Board gave the committee £15,000 last year. It allocated £10,000 of that to Drug Concern and £5,000 to the Bailiwick Gambling Support Group.

Drug Concern is set to rebrand next month, thanks to the money. Business manager Tracey Rear said it was an important move.

‘For a number of years we have done a lot more than just working with drug users,’ she said.

‘There are people with problems with alcohol and helping family members who are affected by addiction.’

The charity also helps people with gambling problems. The new name of the charity will be revealed in April.

‘We are going to use the money from Home Affairs for the rebrand, so people know where to come,’ Mrs Rear said.

‘At the moment people are not sure what is available or where to go.’

The charity is also looking to give additional training to their counsellors to help with gambling problems. A freephone number is also being set up to help islanders with gambling issues.

The number will be available 365 days a year and initially will connect with the UK system, which can help guide people towards services they might need locally.

‘It will be around the clock, so when people are most likely to be in trouble, they can get help,’ Mrs Rear said.

She welcomed the announcement that Home Affairs was looking more closely at the scale of the problem of gambling.

‘We don’t know how big the problem is, so they needed to do the assessment to see what the nature of the problem is,’ she said.

‘But we did not want to wait around and not provide services, as we are not sure how long the assessment will take.’

She said the charity would be gathering data on how its services were used and feeding it back to Home Affairs to help it with the assessment.

A Bailiwick Gambling Support Group spokesman said the group aimed to be the voice for those who have gambling issues, whether it be the individual themselves or if there is someone who is concerned about a friend, relative or loved one.

‘A phone has been bought with the funds from Home Affairs and a helpline - 07839 719000 - has been set up which offers a signposting service to local support and UK online support,’ a spokeswoman said.

‘We also meet on a Wednesday evening from 6 to 7 at the Mind Centre for all those who are seeking help or support with gambling issues.’

She said after the assessment of local gambling problems was carried out, the charity would evaluate where the money will be best placed to support those in need.

‘Ideas at present would be to set up some public awareness campaigns, organise a conference/seminar where we would have key speakers, both locally and from the UK, who can encourage those who need support to speak out and get the help they require, and facilitate workshops including retailers, bookmakers and other stakeholders to build a greater understanding round the issues of problem gambling,’ she said.