GambleAware has called for applicants to join its newly formed Lived Experience Council, as the charity looks to continue leveraging community engagement to inform its operations.

The Council will consist of people with direct lived experience of gambling harm and those who are indirectly impacted by others’ gambling harm, with viewpoints used by both the wider GambleAware organisation and its Board of Trustees.

In particular, GambleAware expects Council members to provide ‘expert independent advice’ across its activities and programmes, guide the charity’s governance and strategic development. 

Zoë Osmond, GambleAware CEO, said: “We are committed to meaningful and inclusive involvement of those with lived experience of gambling harms to ensure their voice is amplified across all areas of our work. 

“As an imperative step in this process, we are pleased to be launching and opening the call for applications for GambleAware’s new Lived Experience Council.”

Council members will fulfil their role and facilitate information sharing across GambleAware by holding a rotating observatory and advisory seat at all of the charity’s Board meetings.

GambleAware has further detailed that it aims to ‘build a community’ of individuals with lived experience of gambling harm who are willing to share their knowledge to inform its day-to-day operations.

“I strongly encourage all those who are interested in being part of this new venture, to please get in touch,” Osmund continued.

“The new Council and community members will bring their unique insight, expertise, and knowledge to GambleAware and help us in creating a society free from gambling harms.”

Use of lived experience knowledge has become a widely adopted objective across the UK gambling industry over the past year, as charities, operators and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) seek to better inform responsible and safer gambling strategies. 

In an open letter published on SBC last month, Osmund outlined that ‘the National Gambling Treatment Service works with partner agencies and people with lived experience to design and deliver a system which meets the needs of individuals’.