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2021-03-31-accounts

Charity number: 1184114

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

CONTENTS

Page
Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers 1
Chairman's Statement 2
Trustees' Report 3 - 15
Independent Auditors' Report on the Financial Statements 16 - 19
Statement of Financial Activities 20
Balance Sheet 21
Statement of Cash Flows 22
Notes to the Financial Statements 23 - 32

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Trustees C Ritchie, Chair
E Katis, Trustee
G Challis, Trustee
T Furness, Trustee
D I H Campbell, Trustee (appointed 18 July 2020)
P Keogh, Trustee
Charity registered
number
1184114
Principal office
The Circle
33 Rockingham Lane
Sheffield
S1 4FW
Chief executive officer
W Prochaska
Independent auditors
Shorts
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
2 Ashgate Road
Chesterfield
S40 4AA
Bankers
Yorkshire Bank
Fargate
Sheffield
S1 1LL
Solicitors
Lupton Fawcett LLP
The Synergy Building
Belgrave House
47 Bank Street
Sheffield
S1 2DR

Page 1

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

STATEMENT FROM THE CO-CHAIR OF TRUSTEES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The co-chair of trustees presents his statement for the period.

This has been a remarkable year for Gambling with Lives in so many ways. Of course, like everyone else we have had to get used to working remotely due to the effects of Covid 19. Despite having to cope with the pandemic, the year has seen a transformation in the scope and scale of activities undertaken by Gambling with Lives. We have made great progress in building the team to be able to deliver across all our areas of activity. We’ve been able to increase the support that we can offer to families; we have developed our education programme; we’ve expanded our awareness raising and campaigning activities, particularly through the Big Step project; we have worked extensively with experts by experience and treatment providers to design a ‘treatment pathways’ project in Greater Manchester; and we have constructed a research programme to explore and understand the link between gambling and suicide.

All of this has been done while continuing to influence the debate on the reform of gambling and gambling regulation. We gave written and oral evidence to the House of Lords Inquiry into the economic and social impacts of the gambling industry and provided written responses to Gambling Commission consultations. We have also continued to be very active in ensuring that the harms related to gambling have had a high profile across all media: television, radio, print and crucially social media.

But perhaps the most important thing to have happened this year in the gambling landscape was the government’s announcement in autumn 2020 of the Review of the 2005 Gambling Act. We have worked with many parliamentarians, organisations and campaigners to secure the review and feel that we have had a significant influence on the tone and coverage of the review. Suicide is now central to the debate on the need for reform: that was not the case when Gambling with Lives was formed in 2018 when the focus tended to be on measuring “problem gambling” rates and harms were thought of in terms of financial losses.

Sadly, our ability to expand our activities has in part been possible through the receipt of a substantial financial settlement, which is directly related to the death of Chris Bruney, the much loved son of one of our founder families. The full circumstances of the settlement, which the Bruney family insisted should come to Gambling with Lives, is covered in the report. However, the Board ensured that there could be no restrictions on how the money was spent; no reporting requirements; and no continuing relationship whatsoever with the guilty operator. We are making sure that we use the money to ensure that at least something positive comes out of the tragic death of such a fine young man.

In many ways, next year will be even more challenging as we continue to expand our family support and deliver across our education, treatment and research agenda. And of course we will continue to play our role with others in ensuring that the proposed changes to gambling regulation are adequate, rigorously implemented and evaluated.

We look forward to working with you.

Charles Ritchie Co-Chair of Trustees

Date: 18th October 2021

Page 2

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The Trustees present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the Charity for the period 6 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

Objectives and activities

. Policies and objectives

Gambling with Lives aims to:

• Improve mental health and save lives through raising awareness of the risks to health of gambling; and

• Provide support to the family and friends of the victims of gambling related suicide and those suffering gambling addiction.

To deliver against the objectives the charity is developing a range of activities, including:

• Providing direct support to bereaved families including mutual aid, therapy, administrative support and advocacy; and

• Promoting the reform of gambling legislation, regulation, and treatment through convening and championing experts by experience; disseminating research; and challenging those in positions of authority; and

• Developing pilot programmes in the fields of treatment, training and education to influence national programmes in these areas.

Achievements and performance April 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021

. Campaign and events

‘Together we are trying to save other people from going through what we’re going through…you just don’t want other people to have to suffer like this’

Judith Bruney – mother of Chris Bruney (14/11/91 - 06/04/17)

Gambling with Lives continues to be prominent in the debate on the future of gambling legislation and regulation in the UK and works in close partnership with a range of organisations committed to reform. In the year to 31st March 2021 the charity made detailed submissions to a call for evidence by the Gambling Commission (GC) on issues of affordability for individual gamblers, and to the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport’s call for evidence on the review of The Gambling Act 2005.

A variety of trustees and officers of the charity appeared on several occasions before the APPG on Gambling Related Harm, the Peers for Gambling Reform group, and the Northern Ireland APG on Gambling Related Harm, providing evidence on topics such as affordability, gambling sponsorship of sport, and a public health approach to gambling.

Meetings were held in the year with civil servants and ministers at DCMS charged with progressing the review of the gambling act, as well as with politicians (in both Houses and across the political spectrum); government departments; the Gambling Commission; the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling; treatment providers (NHS and 3rd sector); GambleAware; Local Authority gambling harms stakeholder groups; suicide prevention organisations; charities; banks; churches; and Experts by Experience (EbEs).

Page 3

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Achievements and performance April 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021 (continued)

Key messages that were conveyed included:

slots

A range of media coverage was secured throughout the period which helped to raise awareness of the risks of gambling. Pieces about or featuring GwL appeared on national and numerous local news programmes; several current affairs programmes; across the UK’s largest national print newspapers; and dozens of pieces on radio. Work was also put into two documentaries on the BBC which have aired after the financial year end.

At the time of writing there are reports in the media that the UK government is going to significantly tighten regulation on gambling operators, which gives cause for confidence in the efficacy of Gambling with Lives campaigning work.

. The Big Step

The Big Step is a GwL campaign to end all gambling advertising and sponsorship through football. Football is an important campaign focus as it is one of the most common routes into gambling for young people in the UK.

In the year the Big Step launched a petition on Change.org to ‘End gambling advertising and sponsorship in football’. By the end of the financial period the petition had garnered 10,000 signatures, driven largely by press coverage of a range of in person and remote walking events organised by GwL’s team. The Big Step also partnered with Peter Shilton who directed the supporters of his ‘Shilton’s Soccer Shirt Ban’ campaign to sign the Big Step petition.

At the time of writing this report the petition with over 12,000 signatures has been handed in at Downing Street. Press reports in the Daily Mail have suggested that the government will ban front of football shirt sponsorship by gambling operators and are considering a full ban on advertising in football as part of the review of the 2005 Gambling Act.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Achievements and performance April 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021 (continued)

. Family support

‘Gambling with Lives charity have been an absolute lifeline for me and my family at this very difficult time’ Annie Ashton – Wife of Luke Ashton (02/10/80 - 24/04/21)

Up to January 2021 GwL’s family support offer was provided by the founders of the charity, supported by a team of qualified therapists with additional capacity from interim management. In January the trustees were pleased to welcome two talented new team members into the roles of Head of Outreach and Engagement and Head of Support.

The Head of Outreach and Engagement is taking responsibility for identifying and reaching out to families bereaved by gambling related suicide, and for helping them with practical elements of support such as securing legal advice, planning in memoriam events, and engaging with the GwL community. The Head of Support is a registered systemic family therapist who directly provides mental health support to GwL families and who secures further specialist mental health services for them.

Together the new team are greatly enhancing the capacity of the charity to offer broader support to families. Outreach activities focussed on a pilot in Glasgow in the first half of 2021, which saw relationships built with statutory and third sector organisations focussed on bereavement support and suicide prevention. Learning from the pilot in Glasgow has informed the charity as to how best to build partnerships capable of referring bereaved families in the rest of the UK.

Since February 2021 five family members have taken up an enhanced mental health support offer, and our Head of Outreach and Engagement has identified five new gambling related suicides and has engaged with three new families.

Gambling with Lives’ family support service offer includes:

• Counselling

• Investigatory support (analysis of records from the lead up to a suicide to help piece together what happened and assess what further action is appropriate)

• Support for complaints to the Gambling Commission (including securing legal advice, and potentially helping to submit Subject Access Requests. GwL may become the organisation that submits the complaints)

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Achievements and performance April 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021 (continued)

. Research

In the period to 31st March, GwL’s research efforts focussed on shaping the charity’s future research programme and on developing discrete projects to advance understanding of gambling related harm in the UK.

GwL’s plans for a research programme were shaped through a number of discussions with individual gambling and suicide prevention practitioners and researchers, culminating in a round table session held in March 2021 involving academics from a variety of different disciplines, experts in the gambling sector, and people with lived experience of gambling harm. The roundtable helped to focus GwL’s research plans to start with a possible qualitative study that will examine the relationship between gambling and suicide. At the time of writing a funding bid has been prepared to fund the initial study.

In January 2021 Gambling with Lives launched a partnership with the Royal Society of Public Health to conduct research into the highest risk gambling products on the market in the UK. The project will deliver a report that examines all different forms of gambling available in the UK to identify the extent to which each class of product can impact health and wellbeing. An appropriate public health response to the product risks will also be explored. The report and associated media activity around its publication is expected in the 4th quarter of 2021.

Utilising the charity’s own research expertise and capacity, and with the support of Academics at Deakin University in Australia a report was published exploring the juxtaposition of a public health approach with the gambling industry’s ‘safer/responsible gambling’ approach. The paper is available online: A Public Health Approach and Responsible/Safer Gambling.

In the period the charity also continued to put a strong emphasis on the importance of summarising and using research in written responses to consultations and presentations to various bodies. Trustees and officers were actively engaged in ensuring that key research reports, such as the Oxford/Warwick Universities analysis of Lloyds Bank data, achieved the exposure and prominence that it deserved in challenging industry claims about the scale and severity of gambling harms.

Page 6

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Achievements and performance April 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021 (continued)

. Education

Gambling with Lives’ education programme has been developed to respond to the inadequacy of public health information for young people in the UK on the risks of gambling. The majority of education programmes that exist are influenced by the gambling industry through long-term funding relationships and fail to properly explore the tactics of the industry and the addictive design features of products which are used to lure young people into addiction.

As part of the development of GwL’s resources, the charity commissioned a team at Deakin University to perform an academic review of what works in gambling. The academic team found that key attributes in gambling education that are required for a programme to be effective include:

1. Being independent from industry

  1. A focus on problem products and harm, not problem people

  2. That the programme builds skills in young people allowing them to think critically when presented with inducements to gamble

GwL’s materials have been designed specifically to deliver against these criteria. The materials provide a view of the risks of gambling and the methods that are used by gambling operators to attract new customers.

Some elements of the programme were tested in the year through delivery in community settings, in particular around football clubs, including Tranmere Rovers and Swansea City. The learning from those sessions influenced the design of the schools based programme.

The programme development was delayed by Covid 19, which halted the production of the programme’s filmbased content that makes up an important part of the materials. The film elements were completed in March 2021 which allowed for a launch to occur in September 2021 in line with the new school year.

The pilot will see the charity’s materials delivered in over 20 schools in Northern Ireland, Manchester, and Essex, which will allow for different delivery methodologies to be evaluated ahead of a planned national roll out.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Achievements and performance April 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021 (continued)

. Treatment and care pathway

Gambling with Lives families know first-hand how inadequate the system of treatment for Gambling Disorder is in the UK. The National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms highlights the discrepancy between the numbers of people in treatment compared to the potential need (estimated to be only 2 per cent). This is linked with lack of awareness within wider health and social services, underdeveloped referral routes into treatment and support, and a lack of national availability.

The Advisory Board on Safer Gambling observes that services are not comprehensive, nor sufficiently integrated with the NHS. This led GwL to bring together experts by experience and other partners with the aim to show how the system of treatment and support can be more accessible, relevant and effective for those who need it.

GwL led a project in partnership with EbEs and leaders in the Greater Manchester health and care system to develop the design of a clear pathway for people with gambling disorder. The pathway design was created to ensure:

• Identification and treatment of Gambling Disorder is embedded in the local health and care system through greater education, training and outreach

The charity’s project culminated in the year with the production of a Gambling Harms Treatment and Care Pathway which was developed in partnership with people with lived experience of harm, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Health and Care Partnership, and Tameside and Glossop CCG.

At the time of writing a grant of £500,000 has been secured to develop the outreach and education elements of the new pathway in Manchester. Further funding for the delivery of the full pathway will be sought in 2022.

. Income generation

In the period to 31st March 2021 Gambling with Lives had three main sources of income. These were from a high net worth individual, money in lieu of a Gambling Commission Regulatory Settlement (see note below), and Regulatory Settlement funding approved by the Gambling Commission. The charity also benefitted from a range of individual donations.

The charity’s income grew substantially due to the sources mentioned above, and particularly the money in lieu of a regulatory settlement.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Achievements and performance April 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021 (continued)

. Receipt of funds earmarked by the Gambling Commission for a regulatory settlement concerning Playtech PLC following the death of Chris Bruney

In the year to 31st March 2021 Gambling with Lives accepted an unrestricted donation of £2.88m from the Charities Aid Foundation which originated from Playtech PLC.

In 2017 Playtech’s subsidiary, PTES, breached its licence conditions, including social responsibility failings. Breaches of licence conditions and social responsibility code provisions are criminal offences. The breaches were only identified when the family of Chris Bruney, who took his own life after gambling with PTES, approached the gambling commission to make a complaint.

The Gambling Commission conducted an investigation, judged that breaches had occurred and decided on a regulatory settlement of £3.5m with PTES in lieu of a fine being levied against them. PTES paid £620k of the settlement before PTES surrendered its licence, voiding the remainder of the settlement.

The Bruney Family subsequently campaigned to get Playtech to pay the settlement in full, which, after public pressure from the Daily Mail, they chose to do.

The Bruney family, a founder family of Gambling with Lives, insisted that the remainder of the settlement (£2.88m) should go to Gambling with Lives so that at least some good could come from Chris’s death. The family were keen that the money did not go to industry partner charities which support the gambling industry’s approach to regulation and customer protection.

Gambling with Lives’ Trustees carefully considered whether to accept the donation. In deciding to accept the donation the Trustees were mindful of the following factors:

  1. It is the express wish of the Bruney family and Chris’ partner for the money to be used to advance the Objects of Gambling with Lives.. The Bruney family maintain that no amount of money can compensate for Chris’ life or for the devastating impact of his death but they wish any funds to be used to raise awareness of the danger to mental health from gambling and for the prevention of gambling related suicide in order to prevent any family suffering as they have suffered. It is important to respect the wishes of the Bruney family.

  2. The donation is akin to a regulatory settlement, with no influence provided to Playtech on how it is spent, and no ability for Playtech to generate positive publicity. The trustees determined that under these conditions the charity’s value of independence from industry is not compromised in any way.

  3. There is no possibility of Gambling with Lives building an ongoing relationship with Playtech or any other industry operator. This is critically important, as other charities which have courted the industry for future donations have found their independence compromised.

  4. Gambling with Lives views the administration of the regulatory settlement process, as well as that of the Research, Education and Treatment (RET) List, which governs voluntary donations from the industry, as part of a failed system of industry funding to pay for the harm it causes, which can only be properly replaced by a statutory levy.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Achievements and performance April 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021 (continued)

. Development of Gambling with Lives core team and infrastructure

In the financial year Gambling with Lives was able to accelerate the development of its core team, systems and processes to achieve its charitable objectives. At the start of the year the majority of the support that the trustees secured was in the form of interim hires and external specialists. By the end of the financial year the permanently employed team had grown to include:

At the time of writing the team has grown further to include:

The policies and processes of the charity are well established for the charity’s current stage of growth. External support is provided by an IT provider called APEX IT; a specialist charity financial management provider called Flock; and recruitment and consulting expertise from Eastside Primetimers.

Financial review

. Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.

. Reserves policy

The Statement of Financial Activities shows a net surplus for the period to 31st March 2021 of £2,773,919 and the balance sheet discloses net assets of £2,797,226. The large surplus has been generated this year as a result of the £2.88m received during the year discussed above. The charity has plans in place to use this money in future periods to further the charitable objectives.

The trustees believe that the current level of funds is adequate, representing sufficient cover for the organisation given projected cash flows in the new year. In the forthcoming year the trustees will develop a detailed reserves policy that will likely aim to cover:

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

. Principal risks and uncertainties

Gambling with Lives is in a development phase, with a growing number of beneficiaries through the increasing scale of programmes. In this context the principal risks facing it centre on the careful management of growth and change in the organisation. The growth of the charity is being managed to ensure the charity’s beneficiaries, employees and its trustees are cared for consistently and in keeping with the charity’s values.

The principal uncertainty facing the charity centres around the outcome of the UK Government’s review of the Gambling Act 2005. The likely legislative changes are due to be announced in a government white paper in the first quarter of 2022. The number of gambling related suicides in the UK will be impacted by the outcome of review and the changes it implements, or doesn’t, on the UK gambling industry, which will have a long-term impact on GwL’s strategy. There is a reasonable chance that the structure of industry contributions to fund charitable work to combat gambling harms will also change substantially as a result of the review, for example through the implementation of a statutory levy, which could present challenges or opportunities for the future growth of Gambling with Lives.

To manage risk and uncertainties the trustees and management of the charity have set a three year strategic and operational business plan and budget, review risks regularly, and are developing the systems and processes of the organisation to ensure they are appropriate for its stage of growth.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Structure, governance and management

. Constitution

Gambling with Lives was incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 26th June 2019 (Charity Number 1184114).

Gambling with Lives is established under a CIO constitution which set out the objects and powers of the charity. If the CIO is wound up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.

In the period to 31st March 2021 the charity was initially operated under the management of its trustees, then by an interim CEO from June 2021, who was appointed to the position as a full-time employee on 1st January 2021. Further employees were brought on board to deliver against the charity’s objectives during the year and post year end.

. Members of the board

The trustees who served during the year were as follows:

Charles Ritchie Elisabeth Katis Gregory Challis Timothy Furness Martin Jones (resigned 9th July 2020) Peter Keogh Judith Bruney (resigned 28th July 2020) Francesca Green (resigned 28th July 2020) David Campbell (appointed 18th July 2020)

. Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Trustees are recruited for their expertise by experience of gambling related suicide and/or for their expertise by profession. Role descriptions exist for the treasurer and co-chairs, and are being developed for other members of the board. In the period to 31st March 2022 the board will review its recruitment and appointment processes, as well as succession plans for existing board members.

Trustees do not receive remuneration for their work for Gambling with Lives but do have expenses reimbursed for expenses incurred solely in the pursuit of charity business.

. Recruitment and appointment of key management personnel

Key management personnel, such as the CEO, are recruited with the support of external HR expertise. Employee salaries and benefits are set using third party support to benchmark against norms for the charity sector.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The year ahead and beyond

Campaigns and events

The financial year to 31st March 2022 will see the publication of the UK Government’s White Paper on the review of the Gambling Act 2005. The new legislative proposals present the single best opportunity to prevent harm to future generations from gambling operators. For that reason GwL and its fellow campaigners are focussing efforts to influence the White Paper to ensure it is a strong as possible within the political context. The charity’s awareness raising and influencing activities in the year ahead will include:

Increasing support for bereaved families

In Financial year 21/22 the activities conducted in the outreach and engagement pilot in Glasgow will be extended to areas of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Specialist therapies will be offered, and broader support, including for inquests and complaints to the Gambling Commission, will be provided.

The importance of shared experience and community to the families bereaved by gambling related suicide will continue to be a central pillar of the support on offer. With the easing of Covid restrictions the coming year will see more in person family events and meetings.

Research

Gambling with Lives’ project with the Royal Society for Public Health will publish its findings in late 2021/early 2022 which will provide an opportunity to add to the debate on the relative risks of different types of gambling products.

Subject to funding Gambling with Lives will launch its first research commission into the qualitative aspects of gambling related suicide in the first quarter of 2022.

Education

At the time of writing Gambling with Lives has held events in Westminster and Stormont to launch its education programme and screen the film that makes up an important part of the materials. The film received plaudits from across the gambling harm sector and from a senior curator at the British Film Institute who spoke at the launch. The pilot of the materials and their evaluation will be completed in 20 schools by the end of the financial year, allowing the charity to plot a course for the roll out of the programme nationally thereafter.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The year ahead and beyond (continued)

Gambling disorder treatment pathway design and coordination

At the time of writing Gambling with Lives has secured a regulatory settlement of £500k to deliver the outreach and education elements of the pathway designed in 2020/21. The objectives of the project are to increase referrals of people suffering Gambling Disorder into treatment in Manchester through improving the awareness and training of health and social care system providers as well as that of gamblers and their families.

The project will see GwL work with EbEs and partners in Greater Manchester to design a set of education materials for health and social care system stakeholders including GPs, Citizens Advice Bureaus, mental health providers, and housing providers to inform them of the risks of gambling, provide access to the most appropriate screening tools, and information on who to refer to. The project will also develop information and awareness raising materials for gamblers and their families which will be made widely available in Manchester.

The project has a further objective of influencing the provision of training and awareness raising nationally. It will launch in December 2021 and will run for approximately six months. Further funding will also be sought to deliver the full GwL Treatment and Care Pathway that was designed in financial year 2020/21.

Charity leadership and core team development

In the context of the Gambling Act review reaching a critical juncture, and the expansion of the charity’s programmes requiring an operational focus, Gambling with Lives is re-organising its leadership structure to maximise its effectiveness, making the role of the Chairs explicit in a collaborative leadership model. The current CEO is moving into a focussed role of Strategy Director. The Co-Chairs will lead the continued development of the charity, and a new Director of Operations and People will be recruited to enhance delivery of the charity’s programmes and central services.

Additional capacity will also be added to the charity in the form of a Head of Fundraising, an Education and Events Manager and additional administrative support.

Members' liability

If the CIO is wound up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.

Public benefit

The trustees believe that the objectives and activities described above clearly demonstrate the public benefit derived from the charity’s operations.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Disclosure of information to auditors

Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees' Report is approved has confirmed that:

Auditors

The auditors, Shorts, have indicated their willingness to continue in office. The designated Trustees will propose a motion reappointing the auditors at a meeting of the Trustees.

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

C Ritchie

(Co-Chair of Trustees) Date: 18 October 2021

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF GAMBLING WITH LIVES

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Gambling with Lives (the 'charity') for the period ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has been withdrawn.

This has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

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GAMBLING WITH LIVES

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF GAMBLING WITH LIVES (CONTINUED)

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' Report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Page 17

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF GAMBLING WITH LIVES (CONTINUED)

Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors' Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

• focusing on the specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the charity, we assessed the extent of compliance with those laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting relevant correspondence.

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

• making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and • considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and

Page 18

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF GAMBLING WITH LIVES (CONTINUED)

regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' Report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors' Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and its trustees, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Shorts

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor

2 Ashgate Road

Chesterfield

S40 4AA

18 October 2021

Shorts are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

Page 19

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Note
Income from:
Donations and legacies
4
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
period ended
31 March
2021
£
3,222,581
448,662
2,773,919
23,307
2,773,919
2,797,226		 Restricted
funds
period ended
31 March
2021
£
102,600
102,600
-
-
-
-		 Total
funds
period ended
31 March
2021
£
3,325,181
551,262
2,773,919
23,307
2,773,919
2,797,226		 Total
funds
year ended
5 April
2020
£
42,446
31,255
11,191
12,116
11,191
23,307

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the period.

The notes on pages 23 to 32 form part of these financial statements.

Page 20

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2021

Note
Current assets
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
10
Net current assets
Total net assets
Charity funds
Restricted funds
11
Unrestricted funds
11
Total funds		 722,135
2,091,060
2,813,195
(15,969)		 31 March
2021
£
2,797,226
2,797,226
-
2,797,226
2,797,226		 -
23,307
23,307
-		 5 April
2020
£
23,307
23,307
-
23,307
23,307

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 18 October 2021 and signed on their behalf by:

C Ritchie

(Co-Chair of Trustees)

The notes on pages 23 to 32 form part of these financial statements.

Page 21

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Net cash provided by investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
The notes on pages 23 to 32 form part of these financial statements		 period
ended
31 March
2021
£
2,067,753
-
-
2,067,753
23,307
2,091,060		 year ended
5 April
2020
£
11,191
-
-
11,191
12,116
23,307

Page 22

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

1. General information

Gambling With Lives is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, incorporated on 26th June 2019 (registered charity number: 1184114). Its registered office is The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, S1 4FW. The objectives of the charity are set out in the trustees report.

2. Accounting policies

2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

Gambling with Lives meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

2.2 Going concern

The outbreak of the Coronavirus in the UK from March 2020 onwards has impacted the whole country and the related disruption is affecting the general economy. The trustees have carefully considered the likely effect of Covid-19 on the charity’s future financial performance and has prepared financial projections thereon. The charity continues to receive donations and legacies and expects this to continue despite some activities being delayed or cancelled. In addition to this, the charity has a strong cash balance.

The trustees have therefore concluded that despite the ongoing difficulties affecting the UK economy, the charity will continue to have sufficient working capital to settle its liabilities as they fall due for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements, and on this basis it is therefore appropriate that they are prepared on a going concern basis.

2.3 Income

All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Grants are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance Sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

Page 23

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.4 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

2.5 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

2.6 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

2.7 Liabilities and provisions

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities as a finance cost.

2.8 Financial instruments

The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Page 24

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

2. Accounting policies (continued)

2.9 Pensions

The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Charity to the fund in respect of the period.

2.10 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

3. Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions:

The Charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The directors have not identified any key accounting estimates or judgements.

4. Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
period
ended
31 March
2021
£
Donations
342,581
Grants
2,880,000
Fundraising activities
-
3,222,581
Total 2020
42,446		 Restricted
funds
period
ended
31 March
2021
£
102,600
-
-
102,600
-		 Total
funds
period
ended
31 March
2021
£
445,181
2,880,000
-
3,325,181
42,446		 Total
funds
year ended
5 April
2020
£
38,232
3,607
607
42,446

Page 25

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

5. Expenditure on charitable activities

Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Total
funds		 Total
funds
2021 2021 2021 2020
£ £ £ £
Campaign and events 72,267 - 72,267 7,575
Family support services 16,870 - 16,870 13,413
Research 53,243 - 53,243 -
Education 114,367 - 114,367 -
Treatment pathway - 7,350 7,350 -
Interim support and recruitment fees 102,086 95,250 197,336 -
Wages and salaries 57,037 - 57,037 -
IT costs 11,619 - 11,619 -
Insurance 1,525 - 1,525 -
Telephone and internet 154 - 154 -
Professional fees 13,836 - 13,836 -
Staff training and welfare 4,028 - 4,028 462
Travel and subsistence 1,495 - 1,495 9,805
Bank charges 135 - 135 -
Total 2021 448,662 102,600 551,262 31,255
Total 2020 31,255 - 31,255

Expenditure on interim support and recruitment fees was higher than wages and salaries in the year due to £95,250 spent from restricted funds on dedicated specialist capacity for the charity’s work on the treatment pathway, and £102,086 expenditure of unrestricted funds which included expenditure on the interim CEO as well as interim management support before employees were brought onto the payroll.

Page 26

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

6. Auditors' remuneration

period
ended year ended
31 March 5 April
2021 2020
£ £
Fees payable to the Charity's auditor for the audit of the Charity's annual
accounts 4,000 -
Fees payable to the Charity's auditor in respect of:
All assurance services not included above 3,000 -

7. Staff costs

Wages and salaries
Social security and other costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes		 period
ended
31 March
2021
£
54,066
1,946
1,025
57,037		 year ended
5 April
2020
£
-
-
-
-

The average number of persons employed by the Charity during the period was as follows:

period
ended year ended
31 March 5 April
2021 2020
No. No.
Average Employees 2 -

The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:

period
ended year ended
31 March 5 April
2021 2020
No. No.
In the band £70,001 - £80,000 1 -

Page 27

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

8. Trustees' remuneration and expenses

During the period, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2020 - £NIL) .

During the period ended 31 March 2021, expenses totalling £ 233 were reimbursed or paid directly to 1 Trustee (2020: £nil) in respect of travel costs.

9. Debtors

Due within one year
Prepayments and accrued income
Grants receivable		 31 March
2021
£
2,135
720,000
722,135		 5 April
2020
£
-
-
-

10. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 31 March
2021
£
6,773
796
8,400
15,969		 5 April
2020
£
-
-
-
-

Page 28

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

11. Statement of funds

Statement of funds - current period

Balance at 6
April 2020
£
Unrestricted funds
General Funds
23,307
Restricted funds
Treatment pathways
-
Total of funds
23,307
Statement of funds - prior period
Balance at
6 April 2019
£
Unrestricted funds
General Funds
12,116		 Income
£
Expenditure
£
3,222,581
(448,662)
102,600
(102,600)
3,325,181
(551,262)
Income
£
Expenditure
£
42,445
(31,254)		 Balance at
31 March
2021
£
2,797,226
-
2,797,226
Balance at
5 April 2020
£
23,307

Page 29

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

12. Summary of funds

Summary of funds - current period

Balance at 6
April 2020
£
Income
£
Expenditure
£
General funds
23,307
3,222,581
(448,662)
Restricted funds
-
102,600
(102,600)
23,307
3,325,181
(551,262)
Summary of funds - prior period
Balance at
6 April 2019
£
Income
£
Expenditure
£
General funds
12,116
42,445
(31,254)
Analysis of net assets between funds
Analysis of net assets between funds - current period
Unrestricted
funds
31 March
2021
Restricted
funds
31 March
2021
£
£
Current assets
2,759,444
53,750
Creditors due within one year
(15,968)
-
Difference
53,750
(53,750)
Total
2,797,226
-
Analysis of net assets between funds - prior period
Unrestricted
funds
5 April
2020
£
Current assets
23,307		 Balance at
31 March
2021
£
2,797,226
-
2,797,226
Balance at
5 April 2020
£
23,307
Total
funds
31 March
2021
£
2,813,194
(15,968)
-
2,797,226
Total
funds
5 April
2020
£
23,307

13. Analysis of net assets between funds

Page 30

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

14. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income for the period (as per Statement of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities
15.
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents		 period
ended
31 March
2021
£
2,773,919
(722,135)
15,969
2,067,753
31 March
2021
£
2,091,060
2,091,060		 year ended
5 April
2020
£
11,191
-
-
11,191
5 April
2020
£
23,307
23,307

16. Analysis of changes in net debt

Cash at bank and in hand At 6 April
2020
£
23,307
23,307		 Cash flows
£
2,067,753
2,067,753		 At 31 March
2021
£
2,091,060
2,091,060

17.

Pension commitments

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund and amounted to £1,025 (2020: £nil). Amounts totalling £795 (2020: £nil) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date and are included in creditors.

Page 31

GAMBLING WITH LIVES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

18. Related party transactions

During the year, amounts totalling £4,471 (2020: £nil) were paid to Pukka Films. The director of Pukka Films is a close family member of a trustee of the charity. In addition to these amounts which were paid from the charity to Pukka Films, an additional £80,064 (2020: £nil) was paid directly to the company by one of the charity's funders, this amount has been included within donations received and expenditure. All related party transactions are considered to have been carried out under normal market conditions.

Page 32