Gambling Awareness Organization Appoints Former PwC Partner to Board
The Gambling Awareness Organization has declared the selection of Andy Boucher as its newest board member. The former PwC associate will join the organization’s governing body.
Boucher is a seasoned professional services specialist with over three decades of experience. He has held various high-ranking positions throughout his career, including a partnership at PwC.
As a retired senior partner and certified accountant, Boucher will contribute his extensive knowledge to the Gambling Awareness Organization. The organization is committed to providing preventative measures, educational resources, treatment options, and support services within the UK’s gambling industry.
Boucher spent over a decade and a half at PwC, concentrating on assisting organizations in developing and implementing tax strategies. He also held tax management positions at Accenture and Smith & Nephew.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Boucher is enthusiastic about social purpose initiatives, including social mobility, homelessness and its prevention, and neurodiversity in the workplace.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andy to the board,” stated Baroness Kate Lampard, Chair of Trustees at the Gambling Awareness Organization. “He brings a wealth of abilities and experience that will be advantageous to us and assist us in guiding our path in the years ahead.”
Were thrilled to collaborate with him and believe he’ll significantly contribute to improving the lives of individuals grappling with gambling difficulties.
Lampard joins the GambleAware board alongside Saffron Cordery, Sean Griffiths, Michelle Haigman, Rachel Pierce, Paul Simpson, Baroness Hilary Armstrong, Marina Gibbs, Mubin Haq, Kora Wangatu Valsaraj, Mel Nebrajani, and Sir Alan Moses.
GambleAware’s recent study reveals a correlation between problematic gambling and prejudice.
This appointment follows GambleAware’s release of new research this month, demonstrating a link between problematic gambling and discrimination. The research, conducted by Ipsos UK and ClearView Research, with assistance from the University of Manchester, investigated the potential connection between problematic gambling and discrimination.
GambleAware stated that the primary finding was the association between problematic gambling and discrimination. Fifty percent of individuals from minority ethnic groups who struggle with gambling are more likely to have encountered discrimination in public compared to those without gambling issues.
Some individuals shared their experiences of how discrimination heightened their vulnerability to gambling difficulties. This included racism and discrimination leading to increased gambling, as well as feelings of exclusion, limited job opportunities, and an elevated risk of mental health problems.
GambleAware will provide enhanced support.
In other news, GambleAware will initiate a fresh funding scheme this month. This scheme intends to tackle some of the problems identified in comparable research.
An autonomous study discovered that gambling involvement among ethnic minorities is 31%. This figure is less than that of Caucasian Britons, where 48% engage in some form of gambling. However, 42% of gamblers from ethnic minority backgrounds have experienced some form of gambling damage, compared to 20% of Caucasian British gamblers.
To address this matter, GambleAware will provide £4.3 million (€5 million/$5.5 million) in funding to organizations in England, Scotland and Wales to help resolve these issues.
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