EPIC Risk Management inks 12-month renewal of Whysup partnership
Gambling-related harm educational organisations agree year-long extension after hailing “huge value” from initial collaboration
EPIC Risk Management has renewed its existing agreement with Whysup for a further year, targeting increased collaboration on gambling-related harm education and training.
It is understood the agreement includes the option of a multi-year arrangement at the conclusion of this latest deal.
The organisations, which have been partnered since May 2019, have committed to providing consultancy services to reduce gambling-related harm “at a practical but also regulatory level”.
Over the last year, the two have teamed up on EPIC’s educational programmes, delivering gambling and online gaming awareness, education and protection sessions in both education and professional sport.
EPIC Risk Management is partnered with Sky Bet to provide education-related services to professional footballers in the English Football League (EFL) about gambling-related harms.
EPIC is now working with over 250 schools per year, educating over 40,000 pupils and plans to significantly increase this in 2020/21 through work in up to 1,000 schools across not only gambling but also mental health issues.
EPIC director of educational programmes Patrick Foster hailed the continuation of the partnership as allowing the two organisations to make “real change – not simply box ticking” – highlighting both organisations’ “lived experience” in tackling addictions.
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with them over the last year and they have added huge value to what we are doing in the education and awareness section of our business,” said Foster.
“Mark has brought energy, enthusiasm and expertise to the sessions and the feedback has been nothing short of brilliant,” he explained.
“It is not often that you can work with an organisation that shares similar values and objectives and this is just the start of a really special partnership.
“Gambling and mental health are intrinsically linked, and this will be a major focus for us in all that we do over the next 12 months across all sectors,” Foster added.
Under the umbrella of the Gambling Commission’s three-year national strategy to reduce gambling harm, EPIC and Whysup work will focus on education, raising awareness, research and providing practical guidance to all stakeholders combatting gambling harm.
Whysup director Mark Murray said he was delighted to renew the collaborative partnership with EPIC Risk Management over the coming year.
“Working with Paul, Patrick and the wider EPIC team over the last 12 months has been fantastic. We are like-minded people who want to deliver the best possible awareness sessions to aid prevention.
“This is what proactive, positive collaboration looks like and together we will educate more young people with what we believe to be potentially life-saving information.
“I believe this is just the start and over the next 12 months we will continue to provide a much-needed service, ensure that young people are aware of the risks, and deliver a real-world gambling education,” he added.