Public Health Wales unveils £1.4m fund to tackle gambling harms through community-led prevention
2026-07-28
Source: iGaming Business
Public Health Wales has committed up to £1.4m over two years to a grant fund aimed at preventing gambling harms, with a focus on de-normalising gambling and supporting at-risk communities through voluntary sector organisations.
Public Health Wales (PHW) has launched a two-year grant programme worth £1.4m aimed at reducing gambling-related harm across the country, with a strong focus on early intervention and community action.
The Gambling Harms Voluntary Sector Grant Fund will provide up to £700,000 per year, with individual organisations able to apply for a maximum of £75,000 annually. Applications open on 31 August and will close on 19 October 2026, with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) managing the distribution of funds.
Target areas and eligible activities
The fund is open to registered charities, community interest companies, voluntary groups and social enterprises operating solely within Wales. PHW is prioritising projects that work to ‘de-normalise’ harmful gambling behaviours, deliver targeted prevention for high-risk populations, and support those affected by another person’s gambling.
Specifically, PHW seeks groups engaging with people facing financial hardship, individuals involved with the criminal justice system, and those impacted by someone else’s gambling habits. The authority says it values initiatives with lasting preventive effects, whether through awareness raising, the integration of lived experience, or the generation of robust evidence on effective interventions.
Helen Erswell, consultant in public health for PHW’s Gambling-Related Harms Programme, said: “This programme will support organisations closest to those most affected. It will deliver prevention and early intervention, focussing on addressing inequalities and reaching those most at risk of harm.”
Catherine Miller, assistant director of grants & income at WCVA, added: “We want the money to reach a wide range of voluntary sector organisations across the country and encourage groups working with at-risk populations to apply.”
The Welsh initiative follows the UK Government’s own two-year, £25.4m programme announced earlier this year, which draws funding from the statutory levy on gambling operators introduced in April 2024.