GamCare is continuing its work to protect UK gamblers from the risks associated with consuming gambling-related debts by announcing that it has begun to trial referrals with PayPlan.
The harm prevention and treatment support charity has launched a pilot initiative connecting its users with debt advice specialists trained by PayPlan.
Debt advice is a key priority in GambleAware’s strategy, given that 66% of its treatment users reported having debt issues, with a further 80% admitting to being impacted by financial hardship as a result of gambling issues.
Operating since 1992, PayPlan is an independent debt-advice organisation that offers support to UK charities, communities, businesses and government institutions on debt
issues.
It offers free consultations to UK adults, a service that has helped over 1m users become debt-free.
GambleAware launched its pilot scheme on Monday 9 August, with initial PayPlan user referrals being introduced by the Leeds Community Gambling Service (LCGS).
PayPlan has delivered training to LCGS practitioners to provide key information about debt advice – in turn, GamCare has upskilled PayPlan’s Special Advice Team on how gambling affects people’s finances and other areas of its support network.
A GamCare statement read: “The referrals will be directed to PayPlan’s Special Advice Team who understand the types of situations the clients may be in. Both organisations will then work collaboratively to provide joint duty of care for those affected by gambling debt.”
