Merkur Group UK has emphasized its commitment to safer gambling, by means of agreeing to support the latest phase of the Mindful Resilience Programme by safer gambling charity, the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM).
A pilot initiative, the Mindful Resilience Programme is designed to enable health care professionals to access quality training on gambling and gaming harm in young people under 25 years old. Designed by psychologists and informed by health professionals, academics and people with lived experience, it has been endorsed by the Shadow Minister for Mental Health Dr. Rosena Alin-Khan MP, who described the program as "pioneering".
The aim is to make sure that risks surrounding gaming and gambling harm are identified and therefore given more priority by training health care professionals who are able to engage with young people, encouraging them to get the help they might need. The roll out of the program would be made widespread, after extensive evaluation.
General Manager of Merkur UK Sascha Blodau said, "We are delighted to be able to play a small part in helping to fund an initiative that directs resource into helping to address such an important part of the safer gambling narrative. Our 360 Program, which we launched in September 2020 is dedicated to ensuring that all of our 2,500 UK staff understand what we mean by safer gambling and equipping our consumer-facing colleagues with the information and practical skills required to turn a philosophy into a deliverable.
"We have a strong working relationship with YGAM not least through the City and Guilds assured training of our 250 venue managers which they delivered. As a business we feel strongly that Safer Gambling goes beyond just the connection that we have with our customers. Our view is that it should be a commitment that gambling entertainment businesses have with society at large. This training connects with the hearts and minds of health professionals, who have a powerful role to play in protecting young people and the vulnerable. We are delighted to play a small part in helping deliver this pilot programme."
YGAM's Director of Business Development and Fundraising Ian Shanahan said, "We're delighted to receive this fantastic support and commitment from Merkur for the Mindful Resilience Programme. It is a crucially important programme in our portfolio and one that is attracting interest from the health sector. This support will help us continue to grow the initiative to increase its reach, profile and impact."
Source:
https://europeangaming.eu/portal/latest-news/2022/05/18/114671/merkur-group-uk-to-fund-ygams-mindful-resilience-programme/
https://www.ygam.org/mindful-resilience/
