Gambling-Related Harm: Training Opportunities

Hertfordshire Public Health is working in partnership with Breakeven to offer free gambling awareness training for professionals who support children, young people, adults, and families across Hertfordshire.

Recent NICE guidance (NG248) recommends that professionals routinely ask about gambling, even when there are no obvious signs of gambling-related harm. Gambling should be considered alongside other health and wellbeing topics, such as smoking, alcohol use, and substance misuse, as part of holistic conversations about risk, wellbeing, and support needs.

For Families First practitioners, this training is particularly relevant as gambling-related harm can have a significant impact on family life. Gambling issues may contribute to financial difficulties, relationship breakdown, stress, poor mental health, and challenges for children and young people. Often these harms remain hidden, meaning families may not access support unless practitioners feel confident raising the subject.

Using national prevalence estimates, it is suggested that:

• Around 38,000 people in Hertfordshire experience harms from their own gambling.
• Approximately 78,000 people in Hertfordshire are negatively affected by someone else's gambling.

This means many of the children, young people, parents, and carers accessing support services may be affected by gambling-related harm, either directly or indirectly, without it ever being identified or disclosed.

The training will help staff to:

• Understand different forms of gambling and how gambling-related harm develops.
• Recognise risk factors and early warning signs.
• Confidently and sensitively start conversations about gambling.
• Understand the impact gambling can have on individuals, families, relationships, mental health, and wellbeing.
• Know where and how to signpost people for appropriate support.
• Meet best practice recommendations from NICE.

We also recommend watching this short five-minute video to hear the experiences of people affected by gambling-related harm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5b_cl0GwaY

 

Training Options

1.5-hour "Bet You Can Help Now!" (MS Teams)

• 24 November 2026, 10:00am–11:30am
• 3 February 2027, 10:00am–11:30am

Level 2 Gambling Awareness Training (In Person)

• 13 October 2026, 10:00am–4:00pm
• Welwyn Garden City Library

For further information and to book, please visit: Public Health Training | Hertfordshire County Council

 

Feedback from previous attendees has been extremely positive, highlighting how the training improved their understanding of the wide range of gambling activities, how gambling-related harm can develop, and the importance of routinely asking people whether they or someone close to them may be affected.

The training is suitable for frontline practitioners, managers, and strategic leads.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch: Lucy Fish – lucy.fish@hertfordshire.gov.uk

For more information about local support services, visit: Gambling | Hertfordshire County Council