Public Health Wales has unveiled a major new £1.4 million funding programme aimed at preventing gambling-related harms and supporting some of Wales’ most vulnerable communities.
Launched in partnership with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), the Gambling Harms Voluntary Sector Grant Fund will provide up to £700,000 per year over the next two years to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations working to reduce the impact of harmful gambling behaviours across Wales.
The initiative marks the first phase of a wider Public Health Wales programme designed to address gambling-related harm through prevention, early intervention and community-based support.
Organisations can apply for grants of up to £75,000 annually, with funding available to registered charities, community interest companies, social enterprises and voluntary groups delivering services within Wales.
Public Health Wales is particularly interested in supporting projects that engage communities disproportionately affected by gambling harms, including people experiencing financial hardship, individuals involved with the criminal justice system and families impacted by another person's gambling.
Funded projects may include:
- Public awareness campaigns and efforts to challenge the normalisation of harmful gambling behaviours
- Prevention programmes targeted at higher-risk groups
- Community outreach and grassroots initiatives
- Support services for those affected by someone else's gambling
- Innovative approaches to reducing gambling-related harm
The programme is designed to create lasting impact by increasing awareness, amplifying lived experience and building evidence around effective prevention and intervention strategies.
WCVA will oversee the administration of the fund, ensuring a high-quality, accessible and fully bilingual application process for organisations across Wales.
The fund is open to both local and national organisations, regardless of size, provided they can demonstrate how their work will help prevent gambling-related harm and improve outcomes for people living in Wales.
Helen Erswell, Consultant in Public Health for the Gambling-Related Harms Programme, Public Health Wales, said:
"This programme will support organisations closest to those most affected. It will deliver prevention and early intervention, focussing on addressing inequalities and reaching those most at risk of harm. It’s a crucial moment for tackling gambling-related harm in Wales, and we encourage any organisation passionate about making a difference to apply."
With gambling harms increasingly recognised as a significant public health issue, the new fund represents an important investment in community-led solutions that can help improve health, wellbeing and social outcomes across Wales.
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