  
|
|
Taking a 'responsible gamble' on young people:RIGT funds online children's charity
29 January 2007
Online charity YouthNet has received funding from the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT) to provide young people with guidance and support on gambling issues.
Using a RIGT grant of £20,000, YouthNet will promote awareness of problem gambling to young people through its website theSite.org, a primary source of information and advice for 16-24 year olds. This will include preparing new content for TheSite.org and hosting live chat sessions so young people have a space to discuss their concerns and find out more about responsible gambling.
Dom Waghorn, Digital Interactive Services Director at YouthNet said: “There has been a lot of speculation about the impact super casinos could have on young people. It’s important that young people understand the issues related to gambling and have easy access to information and support. We are not in the business of preaching to young people and telling them what they should or shouldn’t do. We will use the RIGT funding to enable young people to make informed decisions about gambling and ensure they have access to support if gambling becomes a problem.’
The Responsibility in Gambling Trust – which celebrates its fifth anniversary in February – provides funding for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling problems. The aim of the trust is to help prevent people from becoming problem gamblers and to provide support for those that do.
Malcolm Bruce, Director at RIGT, said: “We are delighted to be working with YouthNet to reach out to young people and equip them to understand gambling’s potential dangers and the need to approach it in a responsible and informed manner.”
Notes to editors
YouthNet is an online charity - founded by broadcaster Martyn Lewis in 1995 – which exists to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams. We actively listen to young people, empower them to speak out and work with them to take action on the issues that they say affect them. We aim to inspire young people, earn their trust and respect and support them with empathy as they seek out their place in the world.
|