Harry Grant
Report Details Reach and Training Outcomes
Ygam, the UK’s leading gambling harm prevention charity, has published its 2025-2026 Impact Report. The document outlines the organization’s cumulative reach, the outcomes of its professional training programs, and its strategic expansion into gaming and esports harm prevention.
The report indicates that Ygam reached 1.2 million children and young people during the most recent reporting year. Since 2020, the organization states it has reached more than 7 million individuals. Emily Tofield, Ygam’s chief executive officer, emphasized the organization’s focus on measuring effectiveness rather than just volume.
“Our ongoing commitment to research, evidence and evaluation means we continually assess not only how many people we reach, but what difference our work makes,” Tofield said.
Professional Training and Curriculum Integration
In the past year, Ygam trained more than 11,000 professionals who work with children and young people. This cohort includes approximately 3,700 teachers and youth workers, alongside health and social care professionals. The report provides specific data on how this training translates into professional practice.
Ninety-two percent of delegates indicated they felt more confident about identifying and responding to signs of gambling harm in young people. Among the subset of teachers and youth workers, 95% noted that the training improved their ability to recognize the signs associated with this type of harm.
Integration into daily practice is a key metric in the findings. Sixty-seven percent of surveyed teachers reported incorporating gambling-related education into their curriculum within a year of completing the training. In the health and social care sector, 69% of professionals said they used the experience to improve their procedures. This rate rose to 75% among professionals specifically working with children.
Parental Engagement and Education Gaps
The report also examines the role of parents in the prevention framework. Ninety-one percent of parents surveyed expressed support for lessons on gambling harm in schools. However, the data reveals a discrepancy in delivery: only 40% of parents reported that their children had actually received such education.
For parents who participated directly in Ygam’s programs, the outcomes were distinct. Ninety-three percent of these parents revealed they were better able to recognize signs of gambling harm after taking part in the program.
Expansion into Gaming and Esports
Ygam launched its Gaming and Esports program in 2025. The initiative has since reached over 50,000 youths. This expansion reflects a shift in harm prevention strategies to address digital entertainment alongside traditional gambling activities.
Tofield highlighted the scale of the organization’s network in this context. “We have brought together the largest and most established community dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among children and young people,” she said.
The charity supports this community through several structural mechanisms. Ygam utilizes a Lived Experience Advisory Panel and a Youth Advisory Panel to inform its strategies. Additionally, the organization collaborates with over 20 UK universities. It maintains an Alumni network with more than 14,000 members, which includes educators, youth workers, and health professionals.
Why It Matters
The report reveals a significant delivery gap: while 91% of parents support school-based gambling education, only 40% report their children receiving it. This disparity is critical for regulators and educators aiming to close the protection gap for minors. Furthermore, Ygam’s expansion into esports signals a strategic shift in how the industry and public health sectors address digital harm, moving beyond traditional gambling definitions to include gaming environments.
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