Leading UK charity Betknowmore UK is excited to announce the latest addition to its podcast offering, New Beginnings, exploring the often-ignored women’s perspective of gambling harms.

Hosted by London-based content creator Abi Feltham, whose own recovery from alcohol and substance misuse have recently hit the headlines, this 10-part series builds on research conducted by Betknowmore UK in 2021 which looked at how approachable, accessible, and effective women find current support and treatment services.

Episodes include interviews with a host of guests who share their lived experiences of gambling harm, as well as advice on how to spot the signs of harm and where to access help and support.

Abi, who has amassed a 90,000-strong following on Instagram, said, “ As women, the overwhelming pressure to be perfect can make acknowledging our struggles and seeking help feel like a failure. Throughout my own battles, I never would have been able to come as far as I have on my own. That's why I am immensely proud to be a part of the New Beginnings podcast, where we aim to help women dealing with gambling harms feel less alone and extend a beacon of hope and support”.

Lisa Walker, Lead Facilitator for New Beginnings bravely discusses how she reclaimed her life back after 16 years of gambling harms in episode one. The lived experience work of Betknowmore UK is so important in providing support and giving hope to people who feel there’s no way out, and the New Beginnings women’s programme is a dream come true for me. So many women are struggling, feeling like they can’t seek help due to the shame and stigma that comes with gambling addiction Having that connection with other women is so empowering, we are helping women every day to come together and break down the stigma to find their own recovery and start living their lives again.”

Episode one is available from Wednesday 16th August every fortnight until the end of the year and can be found wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Stay tuned to our social pages for more information on the Betknowmore podcast with Mark Saggers as we launch the second half of season one soon.

‍Notes to Editors

Established in December 2013, Betknowmore UK’s mission is to address gambling related harm in UK communities. Betknowmore is a leading provider of gambling support and training services. We provide award-winning services which embrace the insight and knowledge of ‘Experts by Experience’ combined with evidence-based approaches. At our core is the ‘lived experience’ of gambling dependency and recovery, from the Founder to the support team to the Management Board.

New Beginnings is a women only support service providing a safe space for women affected by gambling harm. Structured group support will be provided by a team of trained Lived Experience facilitators lead by Lisa Walker.

This year all three of Betknowmore UK’s services were commissioned into the National Gambling Support Network for UK-wide coverage.

For further information contact:

Matt Smith – Head of External Affairs

Podcasts@betknowmoreuk.org