Academics from the University of Glasgow have teamed up with Darwen Council’s Public Health in Lancashire and the University of Sheffield for a comprehensive investigation and evaluation of Gambling Related Harms.

This study, will specifically target the entire population of Blackburn with Darwen. Recent research findings released by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities indicate that approximately 5,000 individuals in Blackburn with Darwen could benefit from support or treatment for gambling-related harms.

The needs assessment will particularly concentrate on individuals accessing drug and alcohol services, women, ethnic minority communities, people facing inequalities, and young people.

Over a 12-month duration, the needs assessment aims to deepen our understanding of gambling's prevalence and its impact on the population of Blackburn with Darwen. It will identify the harms affecting individuals and others.

The primary objectives of the needs assessment are to ascertain:

  • What is the prevalence of gambling and gambling-related harm in Blackburn with Darwen by socio-demographic characteristics and geographical distribution?
  • What are the determinants (risk factors) of gambling and harmful gambling?
  • What are the harms to individuals, families, communities, and wider societal harms associated with harmful gambling
  • What is the social and economic burden of gambling-related harms?
  • What are the barriers to accessing treatment where gambling related harms are clearly identified and acknowledged?
  • What are stakeholder views on gambling-related harms in Blackburn with Darwen?

Dr. Christopher Bunn from the University of Glasgow, who will lead the project alongside Professor Heather Wardle, expressed excitement about supporting Blackburn with Darwen in their efforts to understand and address gambling harms.

Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen’s Executive member for Public Health, Prevention, and Wellbeing, emphasised that this research will provide public health teams with a deeper understanding of gambling and its harms, enabling them to prevent harm and intervene early.

The study builds upon the extensive research conducted by Gambling Research Glasgow, a collective of researchers based at the University of Glasgow focusing on the social impacts of gambling, especially its effects on vulnerable groups, and on the cultural and political context of the expansion of commercial gambling.

Read more about the study on the University of Glasgow news webpage. 

First published: 29 January 2024

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