GamCare has appointed Chris Thornton as its new Director of Operations, strengthening its executive leadership at a time of rising demand for gambling harm support services across the UK.
Thornton will take responsibility for the delivery and performance of GamCare’s national and regional services, including the National Gambling Helpline, and will join the organisation’s Executive Leadership Team.
He brings extensive senior leadership experience across the NHS, the voluntary sector and health commissioning.
Most recently, he served at the British Red Cross, where he was Director for the North of England and the Isle of Man.
In that role, he led large-scale health and care operations spanning NHS and local authority commissioned services, with a focus on reducing pressure on emergency care systems and supporting independent living.
During his time at the British Red Cross, Thornton oversaw around 100 staff and £3m annual income, delivering measurable reductions in emergency department attendances, hospital readmissions, and reliance on formal social care.
On his appointment, he said: “I’m thrilled to join GamCare at such an important moment for the organisation and for everyone working to reduce gambling harms across the UK.
“GamCare operates at national scale, running the UK’s only round-the-clock specialist support service for gambling harms, combining the National Gambling Helpline, live chat, online communities and self-guided tools with thousands of structured treatment sessions and prevention and education programmes reaching tens of thousands of people each year.
“That combination of specialist expertise, integrated delivery and frontline impact is rare in any sector, and is shaping how effective support for gambling harms is understood and delivered. I’m looking forward to building on those foundations and to playing my part in ensuring GamCare’s services continue to meet growing demand as the sector evolves.”
Prior to that, at Primary Care Sheffield, Thornton led city-wide clinical services and co-led successful funding bids worth £22m. At St John Ambulance, he expanded regional charitable activity in the East Midlands by 365%.
His roots in Sheffield grow deeper than just Primary Care, as he was a Trustee at Sheffield Wednesday FC, directing its charitable arm – the Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme.
Thornton is a Chartered Companion of the Chartered Management Institute and previously served for eight years on the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee.
A time of change for GamCare
His appointment comes less than two months after the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) awarded GamCare a total of £4m in funding under the much-discussed new statutory levy system.
The charity was previously primarily funded by GambleAware, but that closed at the end of March due to the funding change.
Thornton will now be tasked with delivering services at the business which has been in operation since 1997.
Victoria Corbishley, Chief Executive Officer of GamCare, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Chris to GamCare and to the Executive Leadership Team.
“He brings exactly the combination of strategic and operational leadership that reflects how we work, significant experience of leading complex health and community services at scale, a strong track record of evidencing impact, and a deep commitment to reaching people who are often underserved.
“I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to deliver and develop our national services.”