Gordon Moody has revamped its leadership team amid a significant change for the UK gambling harm treatment sector, with the new systems in Wales condemned as “unable to meet the needs” of those using it.
One of the UK’s leading specialist gambling harm treatment support organisations , Gordon Moody received £4.5m funding from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparity (OHID) under the new statutory levy framework, implemented as a key measure of the Gambling Act review.
The statutory levy sees licensed UK gambling companies make mandatory yearly payments to support research, education and treatment (RET) services. Prior to this, funding was paid voluntarily to GambleAware, which distributed it to organisations like Gordon Moody.
With GambleAware’s doors now closed (as of March) and the new framework being adopted across Great Britain, Gordon Moody has appointed a new board of trustees as it heads into the new era of gambling harm treatment.
Claire Arnold, who has been a member of its Board of Trustees for five years, has taken on leadership duties as Chair, replacing the late Nazir Badat.
She is joined by Jon Murray as Chief Executive Officer. The charity has taken note of Murray’s contributions to its organisational development and strategic transformation, including developing integrated treatment pathways and expanding digital recovery services.
“It is a privilege to be appointed Chief Executive Officer of Gordon Moody.” Murray remarked.
“Over the past six months, we have made significant progress in strengthening our services, developing new pathways into support, and positioning the organisation for long-term sustainability and impact.”
He added: “These appointments mark an important new chapter for Gordon Moody as the organisation continues its mission to help people recognise gambling harm earlier, access evidence-based support more quickly and sustain recovery through integrated digital, community and residential treatment pathways.”
Gordon Moody operates residential treatment centres across England as well as online counselling services. Its services are open to all UK residents.
New leadership for a new system
The next step for Gordon Moody will be navigating the uncertainties of the UK’s new gambling harm treatment system.
While the firm has benefited from the multi-million sum from OHID, the commissioning role for treatment services has been transferred from the now defunct GambleAware to NHS England.
There is a catch to this though.
One of the last actions Wes Streeting took as Health Secretary, prior to his move to challenge Keir Starmer for leadership, was to introduce a bill with the abolition of NHS England in mind.
The implementation of the new levy system has also not gone entirely smoothly. Many long-standing harm treatment organisations were denied funding under the new system, leading to some questioning its suitability and impact.
And while the Scottish and Welsh governments have been pressing ahead with fund distribution, this process too has not been without its detractors.
Speaking in the Senedd (Welsh assembly), Conservative MS Sam Rowlands raised concerns about “urgent gaps in gambling harms here in Wales”, as reported by Welsh media outlet Deeside.com.
Rowlands was speaking about the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which received £1.3m in levy funds from the Welsh government in April.
However, the MS remains adamant that the newly funded service has been unable to meet the needs of all referred clients, leaving people without the support that they need”.
It is looking highly likely that the statutory levy system will remain a political and regulatory talking point through 2026, alongside other gambling topics like affordability, sponsorship and advertising.