GamCare’s work with Motiv8 Addiction Services, Isle of Man

GamCare has worked with Motiv8 Addiction Services since 2011, supporting the Isle of Man charity to deliver gambling support services to people on the island.

Motiv8 is an Isle of Man registered charity, established in 1978. They were the first service on the island to assist people with alcohol problems, and their work has evolved to include support for people experiencing challenges related to substance abuse, gambling and gaming.

Recognising that stigma can deter people in a small community from coming forward for help, Motiv8 offers a free and confidential service that is easy and quick to access, as well as a wide range of therapeutic interventions that provide choice and flexibility.

In 2022, Motiv8 became the first recipient of GamCare’s Trained Associate model. This model enabled organisations that weren’t registered in Great Britain to receive training in line with GamCare’s ‘Model of Care’ – our clinical framework for treatment – and to provide many of the tools they need to offer gambling support services themselves. In that time, Motiv8 has supported more than 750 people experiencing gambling-related harms.

Since then, Motiv8 has continued to develop their knowledge of gambling issues and expanded their range of gambling support services. They recently launched a regular SMART recovery meeting for those impacted by gambling, utilising a range of cognitive behavioural therapy tools in a group setting to help people build and maintain motivation, manage thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and live a balanced life in recovery.

Because of the changing external environment in the UK, GamCare has recently re-focused its strategy on the client-facing services and programmes we deliver in the UK. This has led to the difficult decision to bring our international work to a close after December 2024, including ceasing to deliver the Trained Associate model outside UK jurisdictions.

While this means our formal relationship with Motiv8 is coming to an end, GamCare is incredibly proud of our work together with Motiv8 over many years. Motiv8 will continue to deliver its vital services for people experiencing gambling harms on the island, and we look forward to watching its continued development and success.

Where to find support

• To get support on the Isle of Man, contact Motiv8 Addiction Services.
• To find other support outside Great Britain, have a look at our list of international support contacts.