We’ve taken a few significant steps forward in our service provision this past week. Some might argue they are strides forward more than steps, given all the pressures and uncertainties around lockdowns and the pandemic.
Firstly, our Gambling Therapy (GT) website has relaunched with a much-advanced functionality. What this means in real speak is that it will make it much easier for those needing help in the UK and around the world to get it.
Forums and groups are now fully mobile responsive enabling clients to easily use them on their phones, which is how 80% of clients contact us online.
Response times have improved rapidly, and this reduces “bounce rates” – meaning that people don’t hang up after suffering a delay while waiting for the mobile application to search and find a site or a page.
These sorts of lengthy and frustrating delays could lose as many as 90% of potential clients before. Now GT can be confidently promoted across all social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, knowing that clients will not be lost, and they will find what they are looking for in a reasonable time.
The website has added new languages (Punjabi, Urdu, Hindu), and it also has the ability to include many more. This will mean opening up the service to new countries and cultures, and it will assist Gambling Therapy connecting with BAME and South Asian communities in the UK and globally.
On top of that we have completed refurbishments at both Beckenham and Dudley and introduced a new treatment programme
Similar progress has been made with our recovery house. Our Retreat & Counselling (R&C) has also developed through running an online programme for men and women.
The Outreach programme has similarly expanded its provision through the use of video groups that offer peer support, Q&As, Women’s groups, topic groups, family and friends groups and of course pre-support.
All of these on their own are significant steps forward, but they are all coming together at a time when we are all facing huge challenges.
And for us that is the point. The world and its people, and particularly those affected by gambling addiction, are all facing massive challenges.
We want our services to be the best they can for those people we can help and support.
So, we are not here just to ask, “Are you okay?” – as important as that is – but to offer the real quality of help that is so urgently needed, whether it is online or in person.
We know there is a lot more to do. And we have plans in place for next year to keep making progress that brings real benefit for all our service users and their friends and family.
We also want to make sure that the hidden addiction of gambling becomes more widely understood and acted upon.
We are very pleased that the media seems to be picking up on the issue and presenting it in a balanced and sensitive way (see below).
We are hoping that Gordon Moody should be in a few national media stories over the next few days and there is growing interest in future coverage as well.
We will keep you updated.
Gordon Moody and the media
As well as improving our own communications through websites, social media, and other channels, we have been working more with broadcast and print media in recent months.
This has partly been because of increased awareness and interest because of the pandemic and lockdown. But also, because we have also wanted to get important news out there, about how people can access services and helping people to know they are not alone and can get support.
Understandably, the media like to focus on case studies – the human story that people understand most readily.
We try to offer that if we can, but we also make it clear to media organisations what we are not prepared to do and the duty of care we feel for all our residents, ex-residents, their friends and family and our staff.
We will not get involved in stories that are simply trying to sensationalise things or cause distress for anyone.
And for us one of the most important things is ensuring media companies don’t just show the tough times but that they show that there is help and hope for people regardless of how challenging their personal situation is.
To apply for treatment at Gordon Moody visit www.gordonmoody.org.uk or for more information call us on 01384 241292.
The National Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 call free on 0808 802 0133