Gambling harm affects around 2 million people across the UK, causing serious financial, psychological, and social damage to individuals, families, and communities. Yet older adults, who face a distinct set of life pressures including retirement, social isolation, declining health, and financial insecurity, remain largely overlooked in both research and prevention efforts.
Over the next twelve months, Leeds University, in partnership with Leeds Older People’s Forum, will establish a panel of ten to twelve older adults from the Leeds area who have personal experience of gambling harm. Working together through a series of workshops, panel members will help identify the stressors that matter most in their communities, review emerging research findings, and shape the questions and methods that will guide future work. Panel members will act as genuine co-researchers, with real influence over the direction of the project.
Who we’re looking for
We’d love to hear from people who are:
- Aged 55 or over
- Live in the Leeds Bradford area
- Want to share insights in a safe, supportive environment
- Are interested in co-designing solutions that help others
And have either:
- direct experience of gambling harm, or
- experience as an affected other of gambling harms (partner, family member, caregiver)
We welcome people from all backgrounds, and we aim to reflect the diversity of Leeds’ older population.
What’s involved?
The LEP will meet three times over 12 months in friendly, accessible community spaces (with hybrid options available). Each meeting will be approximately 3-4 hours long, but will be co-determined by the LEP itself.
As a panel member, you will:
- Help identify key stressors that contribute to gambling harm in your community
- Shape research questions and future studies
- Co-develop community resources and policy recommendations
- Participate in creative activities such as mapping, storytelling, or group discussions
- Inform how researchers and policymakers understand older adults’ lived realities
- Contribute to public-facing materials like blogs, short reports, or presentations (optional)
No personal stories need to be shared unless you choose to.
What can you expect from us?
We create a supportive, warm, and trusted space, providing:
- Wellbeing check-ins
- Flexible participation
- Breakout spaces
- A co-developed Terms of Reference that establishes ground rules, expectations, and honours your boundaries and comfort
Incentives and compensation
To recognise your time and expertise, we will provide:
- An £80 shopping voucher per half-day workshop
- Reimbursed travel costs from the Leeds Bradford area
- A hot buffet lunch and refreshments at workshops
Payments can be tailored to avoid impact on received benefits.
Tentative workshop schedule
- Workshop 1 (June): Relationship building & identifying key stressors
- Workshop 2 (October): Exploring findings, validating stress pathways
- Workshop 3 (February): Shaping future research and discussing ongoing involvement
You can opt out at any time, no pressure.
Where will meetings be held?
Accessible community venues in Leeds city centre with good public transport links.
Hybrid participation is available if needed.
Information about the research
This work is delivered by:
- University of Leeds (Centre for Decision Research)
- Leeds Older People’s Forum (LOPF)
This Project has been approved by the University of Leeds’ Business, Environment, and Social Sciences Faculty Research Ethics Committee, Project ID #4320.
You’ll be supported by researchers, community facilitators, and a clinical psychologist with expertise in gambling harm.
How to get involved:
To express interest or ask questions, please contact Damian Dawtry through the following channels:
Email: lep@opforum.org.uk
Phone: 07985 442630
