Ygam training boosts gambling harm awareness in UK care

An independent evaluation has confirmed the significant impact of training provided by Ygam, a UK-based charity focused on preventing gaming and gambling harms in children and young people. The evaluation, conducted by research and consultancy firm Rocket Science, has highlighted a substantial increase—72%—in the ability of Health and Social Care practitioners to recognise risks associated with gaming and gambling in youth following their participation in Ygam’s programme.

Ygam’s mission to safeguard children and young people from gaming and gambling-related harms has become increasingly vital as digital entertainment continues to evolve. The training is designed to equip professionals in the care sector with practical knowledge, intervention tools, and confidence to identify and respond appropriately to emerging behavioural risks related to gaming and gambling.

Measurable progress in training outcomes

Rocket Science’s report, published in 2024, documents the measurable impact of Ygam’s training initiative. Over the course of the year, Ygam trained 1,957 practitioners across various clinical and non-clinical environments. These professionals were collectively estimated to reach nearly 200,000 children and young people. This figure translates to 166% of Ygam’s intended target reach, far exceeding projections.

The participants included staff from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the children’s mental health charity Place2Be. The training delivered was praised not only for its practical application but also for its capacity to bridge a notable gap in practitioner awareness, especially concerning the hidden and often misunderstood harms associated with digital gaming and gambling.

Enhanced practitioner confidence and communication

One of the strongest indicators of success noted in the report was the sharp rise in knowledge and confidence among practitioners who completed the training. Pre-training surveys indicated that only 14.8% of participants felt confident in their understanding of gaming and gambling harms. After completing the programme, this figure surged to 95.1%.

Similarly, the proportion of professionals who felt confident discussing these issues with children and young people rose from 20.4% to 91.9%. The ability to signpost and support individuals potentially at risk also showed significant improvement—from 18.5% to 92.8%. These statistics point to a transformation in how practitioners perceive and address digital behavioural risks.

Importantly, the evaluation found that this knowledge was not short-lived. At three-month and six-month intervals following the training, 57.8% and 75.0% of participants respectively reported retaining a high level of awareness concerning gaming and gambling risks. This persistence in understanding suggests that the training provides a lasting foundation for ongoing professional practice.

Institutional embedding and recommendations for growth

While the evaluation provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, it also issued several strategic recommendations to further enhance the reach and effectiveness of Ygam’s programme. These include:

Wider inclusion of frontline professionals: Expanding training beyond the current scope to include police officers, teachers, school counsellors, youth workers, and sports coaches could create broader early intervention points.

Integration into safeguarding frameworks: The training could be more deeply embedded within the existing structures used by schools and healthcare providers for safeguarding and mental health support.

Customised materials for practitioner subgroups: Tailoring content to suit the specific needs of different professions could increase engagement and relevance. For instance, teachers might benefit from case studies relating to classroom behaviour, while healthcare workers may require clinical context.

These suggestions align with the goal of ensuring that professionals at all levels who interact with children and adolescents are prepared to detect early signs of harm and intervene responsibly.

Ygam’s commitment to evidence-based development

Sandy Thompson, who leads the Health and Social Care programme at Ygam, emphasised the charity’s dedication to an evidence-led approach. She stated:

“Being evidence-led is at the heart of everything we do. This evaluation does not just depict our impact but emphasises our heightened focus on reflection and improvement. Over the past year, we’ve embedded rigorous evaluation into every stage of programme delivery to ensure our work is both effective and responsive to the needs of healthcare practitioners and the young people they support.

“These insights have shaped our approach, informed our partnerships, and strengthened our commitment to continuous growth. As we look ahead, this evidence base will continue to guide our efforts to scale impact and drive meaningful change in the prevention of gaming and gambling harms.”

Thompson’s remarks underline Ygam’s ongoing aim to adapt and refine its interventions in accordance with practitioner feedback and changing societal trends. The charity’s work is not only helping to protect children but also supporting professionals who may previously have lacked the tools to respond effectively to emerging risks.

The growing urgency of addressing digital harms

With digital gaming environments becoming more immersive and gambling products more accessible via smartphones, children and teenagers are increasingly exposed to potentially harmful content. These risks include financial losses through in-app purchases, exposure to loot boxes (which mimic gambling mechanics), psychological dependency, and emotional distress triggered by addictive gameplay or gambling behaviours.

For practitioners, recognising the subtle signals of harm—such as social withdrawal, mood swings, or school disengagement—can be particularly challenging without specific training. Ygam’s programme helps to clarify the distinctions between recreational and problematic behaviour, allowing for earlier and more appropriate intervention.

Policy implications and sector-wide relevance

The success of Ygam’s training has implications beyond individual professional development. Policymakers and educational authorities may view this model as an example of best practice that could inform national safeguarding policies. Given that some jurisdictions have already moved to regulate or ban loot boxes and similar mechanics due to their association with gambling behaviours, equipping professionals with education in this space becomes all the more urgent.

Additionally, the programme reinforces the broader importance of aligning digital safety with mental health strategies. When front-line workers across the healthcare, education, and social care sectors are unified in their approach to recognising digital risks, the safeguarding net around children becomes stronger and more effective.

Looking forward: Scaling responsible interventions

Ygam’s future focus appears to be directed at scaling up the programme’s reach while retaining its impact and responsiveness. The charity is expected to continue refining its curriculum in response to new technological trends and practitioner feedback. With the support of data and evidence like that found in the Rocket Science evaluation, Ygam is well-positioned to expand its partnerships across the UK.

In an environment where mental health services are increasingly under pressure, initiatives such as this play a crucial role in alleviating some of that burden by providing early-stage prevention tools. In turn, this proactive approach could reduce the long-term costs associated with mental health treatment and social care interventions resulting from unaddressed digital harms.

Conclusion

The independent evaluation of Ygam’s training programme underscores the significant and lasting impact of targeted education in addressing gaming and gambling harms among children and young people. With clear evidence of increased practitioner knowledge, improved confidence, and enhanced ability to support those at risk, Ygam’s initiative represents a critical tool in the broader effort to safeguard the well-being of the younger generation.

As digital entertainment platforms continue to evolve rapidly, so too must the strategies for identifying and mitigating related harms. Ygam’s evidence-based, practitioner-focused approach offers a scalable model that not only empowers frontline workers but also complements national safeguarding and mental health frameworks. By continuing to expand its reach and refine its content in response to evaluation findings, Ygam demonstrates a strong commitment to innovation, responsibility, and the long-term protection of vulnerable children and adolescents.

Ultimately, the findings from Rocket Science’s evaluation validate Ygam’s role as a trusted partner in the preventative care landscape. With continued support and strategic collaboration, the programme has the potential to effect meaningful systemic change—one informed practitioner at a time.

FAQs

What is Ygam and what does it do?
Ygam is a UK-based charity focused on preventing gaming and gambling-related harms in children and young people through training, education, and research.

Who conducted the evaluation of Ygam’s programme?
The independent evaluation was conducted by Rocket Science, a consultancy that specialises in social impact analysis and public sector improvement.

What was the main outcome of the evaluation?
The report found a 72% increase in practitioners’ ability to identify gambling and gaming-related harms among children and youth after completing the training.

How many professionals were trained by Ygam in 2024?
A total of 1,957 practitioners were trained, reaching an estimated 199,467 children and young people through their professional roles.

What areas showed the greatest improvement in practitioners?
There were major increases in knowledge of gaming and gambling risks, confidence in discussing the topic, and ability to signpost and support young people.

Is the training impact long-lasting?
Yes, follow-up surveys at three and six months after the training showed sustained knowledge retention among the majority of participants.

What recommendations were made to improve the programme?
Suggestions included widening access to more frontline professionals, integrating training with safeguarding frameworks, and customising content for specific groups.

Which organisations have already benefited from Ygam’s training?
Organisations such as Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Place2Be have incorporated the training into their professional development programmes.

Why is this training increasingly relevant today?
The rise of digital gaming and the blurring of lines between gaming and gambling make it essential for professionals to understand the associated risks to young people.

How does Ygam ensure its training remains effective?
Ygam follows an evidence-led approach, incorporating practitioner feedback and research at every stage to refine and enhance its training content.