Working together to reduce gambling-related harms: spotlight on local innovation

GambleAware’s Mobilising Local Systems (MLS) funding programme supported nine Regional Boards across England, Scotland and Wales to strengthen joined-up, place-based responses to gambling-related harms. 

As learning and evaluation partner to GambleAware, we worked closely with boards and delivery partners to foster collaboration through regular engagement, creative action-learning events, and the co-production of learning across the programme.

Spotlight on local innovation

As part of the evaluation, we developed a series of case studies with each Regional Board. These highlight innovative local practice and demonstrate how MLS funding:

· increased awareness of gambling-related harms

· strengthened cross-sector partnerships

· improved referral pathways, creating more responsive local systems

Across the regions, awareness was raised in creative and inclusive ways, from immersive events and mini-conferences to embedding gambling harm into public health agendas, policing, prisons and council policies. 

Several boards also focused on accessibility, creating safer spaces and redesigning services to better support diverse communities.

Learning in motion

The evaluation shows clear impact: 80% of survey respondents reported improved multi-agency working, with better communication, simpler referrals and new partnerships emerging through MLS. 

We pulled key learning from across the programme together in a short animation, which also highlights early signs of legacy, including new screening tools, workforce training, policy adoption and more effective referral pathways.

The Tavistock Institute team