Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy Generator

Getting support

Free and confidential services

NHS North West Gambling Service

The NHS North West Gambling Service provides specialist addiction therapy and recovery to people affected by:

  • gambling addiction
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • trauma
  • suicidal feelings

This service also helps people close to those with gambling addiction, such as family members, partners, and carers.

It covers the whole of the North of England including the north Midlands, with clinics located in:

  • Manchester
  • Liverpool
  • Blackpool

To access this service, you can:

GamCare

The National Gambling Helpline provides advisors who are available 24/7 online and over the phone.

Its team can signpost you to a range of confidential and free support services, such as counselling and therapy, as part of the National Gambling Support Network.

You can speak to an advisor or refer yourself to the National Gambling Support Network by:

Young people's support service

GamCare also has a dedicated service for young people. If you're aged between 11 and 18 years and are worried about your own or someone else’s gambling, you can self-refer by:

You can also get in touch with this service by:

Beacon Counselling Trust

Call 0151 226 0696 if you're aged 16 years or over and:

  • have an existing gambling problem
  • have co-existing gambling problems and other issues
  • are at risk of developing a gambling problem
  • have been affected by the gambling of a family member or significant other

Leave a message, including your phone number, if calling outside of business hours. You can also email gamcare@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk

Stockport residents can access clinics in Salford, Wigan and Tameside. Telephone support is also available. For more information, or to self-refer online visit the Beacon Counselling Trust website.

NHS Northern Gambling Service

Call 0300 300 1490 if you're aged 18 years and over and have an existing gambling problem and:

  • mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, trauma or suicidal feelings
  • alcohol or drug misuse
  • concerns about risk of harm to yourself or others
  • frequent involvement with the criminal justice system or a history of serious offending
  • adverse experiences in childhood that may underlie the gambling problem
  • developmental problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or difficulties with cognitive or intellectual functioning
  • serious physical health difficulties

Leave a message including, your phone number, if calling outside business hours. Or you can email referral.ngs@nhs.net, providing a contact number.

Telephone support is available and there are clinics in Salford, which Stockport residents can access. For more information, or to self-refer online visit the Beacon Counselling Trust website.

Gambling With Lives

Gambling With Lives offers therapeutic mental health and bereavement support for anyone affected by a gambling related suicide, including peer support, counselling and support with legal proceedings. For more information, visit the Gambling With Lives website.

You can also email support@gamblingwithlives.org.

Support for family and friends

If you're worried about a family member or close friend’s gambling, GamFam provide support, advice and resources.

Mutual aid groups

Mutual aid describes a group of people with similar experiences helping each other to overcome their issues. We know that these groups can have a really positive impact on helping people to achieve and maintain recovery.

Groups involve people coming together to build a confidential peer support network and offer a supportive and long-term environment to help you recover. In addition to main meetings, there are mixed meetings, to attend with family members or friends, women-preferred meetings and newcomers meetings.

Gamblers Anonymous

Regular meetings take place in Stockport and other areas in Greater Manchester. For more information about what's available near you visit the Gamblers Anonymous website.

GamAnon

Confidential support from other people who've been affected by someone else’s gambling. Regular meetings take place across Greater Manchester. For more information on what's available near you visit the GamAnon website.

Other support and information

Citizens Advice

Your local Citizens Advice can provide confidential support and advice on the phone and in person on a range of issues including managing finances and legal support. Visit the Citizens Advice website.

Chapter One

Chapter One is a partnership between Gambling with Lives and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. You can find information that will help you understand the causes of gambling harm and where to access the right help. Visit the Chapter One website.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

For more information about what we are doing across Greater Manchester around problem gambling visit the GMCA website.