Women’s Pathway
The Women’s Pathway aims to reduce the harm women experience from gambling, either from their own gambling or the gambling of someone else.
We understand that gambling can have a significant impact on women’s lives, and we’re here to help you navigate these challenges.
We offer support groups for women experiencing gambling harm, awareness raising information and tools, and accredited training for professionals.
Who is the Women’s Pathway for?
The Women’s Pathway is designed to support and empower women at every stage of their journey. Whether you’re seeking guidance or resources, or you’re a professional who works with women, we’re here for you.
- Women who gamble themselves.
- Women who are affected by someone else’s gambling.
- Professionals who support women.
- People who are interested in understanding more about gambling harm.
For Women
Join Way Forward, our support group for all women affected by another person’s gambling
Connect with other women, share your experiences, and find strength together. We offer a warm and welcoming environment led by experienced facilitators.
Weekly sessions lasting 1.5 hours are delivered over 6 weeks.
We provide a safe, supportive, and confidential space for women to build their understanding of how gambling harm happens, how you can take care of yourself and find strength in shared experience with other women.
- Session 1 – Getting to know each other.
- Session 2 – Understanding gambling harm.
- Session 3 – Taking care of yourself.
- Session 4 – Dealing with guilt and shame / enabling behaviours.
- Session 5 – Dealing with anger and resentment.
- Session 6 – Having difficult conversations / expectations / acceptance.
If you’re interested in joining a group, you can get in touch with us at [email protected].
To find out more, take a look at our Way Forward page.
Sign-up for support with a Practitioner
If you’re experiencing harm from gambling and want to talk to someone about how to make a change, we offer a range of support with skilled Practitioners across the five key locations below.
Our structured support is free, flexible and confidential and can be available face-to-face, over the phone or online. Refer yourself into one-to-one support with a Practitioner in your area:
- East Midlands
- London
- Scotland
- South East
- Yorkshire and Humber
- Isle of Man
- Northern Ireland – coming soon.
Join our webinar 'Women Speak: Hear their Story, Find Your Strength'
Empowering conversations about gambling harm.
Join our free webinar to hear Nikki’s story, from experience of gambling harm to a journey of recovery.
This is an online space, where you can listen to a woman’s story of gambling harm, ask any questions you may have and be supported in a safe and welcoming space.
Videos: Women with Lived Experience
Our animated video series shares the stories of women with Lived Experience of gambling harm. Their stories address the unique challenges they faced as women, including the guilt and stigma often associated with gambling harm.
Lots of women experience harm from gambling and through shared stories we can remember that we’re not alone.
Sarah’s Story tells the story of Sarah, a woman who began gambling socially for fun. Before Sarah knew it, this went from something to enjoy to something that was harmful, until she was able to ask for support. Watch Sarah’s Story.
Jessica’s Story tells the story of Jessica, a woman affected by another person’s gambling. Jessica felt alone and was overwhelmed with worry but by contacting GamCare, Jessica was able to find the support she needed. Watch Jessica’s Story.
Mai’s Story tells the story of Mai, a young professional who used online games to relieve the stress of work. Before Mai knew it, she was playing more and more which began to impact her life before she reached out for help. Watch Mai’s Story.
Join our Chatrooms and Forums
Our online chatrooms allow you to connect through live text chat to talk about issues related to gambling harm with other people in similar situations, supported by an Adviser. Chatrooms run for one hour at the following times:
- General Chatroom: Everyday at 8pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1pm.
- Chatroom for Family and Friends: Tuesday at 12pm and Thursday at 7pm.
- Women’s Chatroom: Tuesday at 7pm and Wednesday at 2pm.
Self-guided support tools
EmpowerMe
EmpowerMe is our self-guided support tool designed to help you on your journey to stop or reduce your gambling.
The eight different sections of the programme explore different areas of your recovery journey and have been developed alongside people with their own lived experience of gambling harms.
Mental health and wellbeing
Self-care is one of the most important steps in maintaining our mental wellbeing. There are already lots of ways we take care of ourselves, but sometimes life can get in the way, and we forgot to take the time we need to look after our mental health and wellbeing.
Learn more about the connection between gambling and mental wellbeing through our blog.
Explore self-care tips today by trying our self-care activity. Don’t wait. Your wellbeing is worth it.
Worried about finances?
If you’re finding that your gambling is having an impact on your finances, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that up to one million women in Great Britain are currently at risk of experiencing harm as a result of their gambling.
Whatever your situation, our Money Guidance Service Factsheets can support you to better understand your finances and the options available to you.
Find the answers to your finance questions with our easy guide.
Read our blog post on money worries.
For Professionals
Book free CPD-accredited Gambling Harm Awareness Training
We’re here to support all professionals to understand gambling related harms, in particular those who work with and support women.
The learning objectives are:
- Understand what gambling harm is and its different forms.
- Recognise the risk factors and drivers to gambling harm.
- Know how to spot the signs of gambling harm.
- Understand the impacts of gambling harm for women who gamble or who are an affected other.
- Knowledge of referral pathways for help and support.
Email us at [email protected] to organise training for your staff.
Download our free posters and information leaflets
Empower your clients with informative resources. Download free leaflets and posters covering a variety of topics relevant to supporting people with gambling related harms.
These resources can be printed and displayed in waiting rooms, treatment areas, office notice boards or anywhere else you want to raise awareness of gambling harm!
Browse and download the resources that best suit your needs on our dedicated resources page.
Download our free Lived Experience animations
Is there a screen in your waiting room?
Download free, informative videos that you can share in your waiting room to inform your clients about gambling harm while they wait.
Our animated video series shares the stories of women with Lived Experience of gambling harm. They address the unique challenges women face and reduce the stigma often associated with gambling harm. By providing these resources, you can create a safe space for women to seek the help they need.
Make a referral for one-to-one support
If a woman you are supporting is experiencing harm from gambling and wants to talk to someone about how to make a change, we offer a range of support with skilled Practitioners across the five key locations below.
Our structured support is free, flexible and confidential and can be available face-to-face, over the phone or online. You can refer your client into one-to-one support with a Practitioner in their area:
- East Midlands
- London
- Scotland
- South East
- Yorkshire and Humber
- Isle of Man
- Northern Ireland – coming soon.
Make a referral into our peer support group, Way Forward
Way Forward is our support group for all women affected by someone else’s gambling harm.
Weekly sessions are delivered over 6 weeks.
We aim to provide a safe, supportive and confidential space for women to build their understanding of how gambling harm happens, how they can take care of themselves and empower one another through shared experiences.
- Session 1 – Getting to know each other.
- Session 2 – Understanding gambling harm.
- Session 3 – Taking care of yourself.
- Session 4 – Dealing with guilt and shame / enabling behaviours.
- Session 5 – Dealing with anger and resentment.
- Session 6 – Having difficult conversations / expectations / acceptance.
Email us at [email protected] to refer a client (or book yourself in the group).
To find out more, take a look at our Way Forward page.
Make a referral into the Young People’s Service (under 18 across the UK)
Do you work with young people (under the age of 18 years) who could benefit from additional information or support around gambling harm? Or would you like build your own knowledge in how to support young people experiencing gambling harm?
We offer a variety of free support options and tools designed to empower them, including training for young people, professionals training and confidential one-to-one support for young people.
Complete a quick and secure referral form to connect a young person with support.
Browse our full offer to children and young and book one of our professional training opportunities.
Find out more about our previous work to reduce women experience of gambling harm:
