Gordon Moody to open women-only residential treatment centre
Gambling harm charity to launch Midlands-based venue in 2021 for 24 women per year
Gordon Moody is set to open the world’s first residential treatment centre for female gamblers in 2021.
The gambling harm prevention and therapy charity will provide a safe space for up to 24 women who are severely affected by gambling disorders.
The centre will be based in the Midlands and will be financially backed by Intouch Games, a mobile-first games developer in the gambling industry.
Cases of gambling-related harm in women have risen sharply over the last 12 months.
Last year there was an increase of more than 100,000 women visiting the Gordon Moody Gambling Therapy website, while 30% of industry helpline calls came from women.
The decision to launch a female-only residential treatment centre comes as a result of a marked increase in Gordon Moody’s women’s counselling programme.
Last year, the charity’s retreat and counselling programme received 160 applications for the 36 places available. The programme runs three times a year with 12 participants in each cycle.
The new residential centre promises to be more inclusive of minority groups and to provide greater support to friends and families who have been impacted by gambling harm.
Matthew Hickey, Gordon Moody CEO, said: “Gambling is the hidden addiction and hidden further again within that is the story of women gamblers and women who are affected others.
“There is an absolutely urgent need to change this and the impact of Covid means this is a growing crisis that needs to be tackled with more expertise and resources.”
An Intouch Games spokesperson said: “We are proud and honoured to be working in partnership with the Gordon Moody Association in the development of such a unique and ground-breaking project.
“This is a financial investment in furthering the critical work carried out by Gordon Moody, but it’s also about investing in the safer gambling culture of our whole organisation and raising awareness of our staff, customers and partners about the potential impact of gambling on the lives of vulnerable women and the barriers to treatment that they experience,” they added.