£300K Boost for Surrey Women Battling Gambling Addiction
Women in Surrey struggling with gambling addiction are about to get a lifeline. A hefty £300,000 grant from Gamble Aware will fund Surrey County Council’s Bridge the Gap programme for the next two years.
Support for Women Facing Multiple Challenges
The funding will help around 16 women each year with specialist, long-term, trauma-informed outreach. Another 30 women with a history of gambling harm will receive ongoing recovery support from peer workers who have lived through addiction themselves.
Bridge the Gap is also launching a county-wide peer support network, ensuring women get sustained help and community backing to kick gambling and rebuild their lives. The programme ties into a wider Surrey strategy to tackle gambling harms.
From Rock Bottom to Advocate: Nat Adams’ Journey
Nat Adams, 54, from Camberley, a former sports coach, was instrumental in landing the grant. After a near-fatal car crash left her with mobility issues, Nat turned to online gambling during her recovery.
“It affected every part of my life—from my mental health to my family relationships—and I even became homeless,” Nat revealed.
She now uses her experience to help others recover, calling for more face-to-face support in Surrey.
“Gambling addiction can be deadly—there’s a suicide every day in the UK due to it,” Nat said. “Unlike drug or alcohol addiction, gambling support is all too often scarce, forcing people to travel miles for help. I know retired nurses who have gambled away their pensions and others who have lost entire inheritances in no time.”
Nat herself is currently in emergency bed and breakfast accommodation and understands the urgent need for support, counselling, and housing for vulnerable women.
Partnerships and Pathways to Recovery
Bridge the Gap will partner with Gamcare and Surrey County Council’s Public Health mental health team to boost referral routes and awareness. Collette Le Van-Gilroy, Senior Programme Manager, said:
“This Gamble Aware award is a major win. Together with Gamcare, we’ll provide tailored support addressing both immediate crises and long-term recovery needs. Our aim is to build a resilient community network empowering women to overcome their challenges.”
Get Help Now
Bridge the Gap is a coalition of 11 community organisations delivering trauma-informed outreach for those facing multiple disadvantages in Surrey.
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, free, confidential support is available. Contact The National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133 or visit GambleAware and GamCare, the UK’s leading gambling harm support charity.
