This volunteer week, we highlighted the work of our extraordinary online colleagues. We talked to Nigel and Martin, two volunteers who had experienced the dangers of gambling and now used their experiences to help others.
“One of my regrets? Not volunteering faster,” said Nigel, who has been a supporter of online colleagues for more than a year.
“Volunteers with gamcare feel like a natural match, considering that I have suffered damage brought by gambling from both sides.
“I am addicted from an early age to change my life with career changes. I became a croupier and continued to various other roles in the gambling industry.
“The experience and desire to continue the words of wisdom to others who experience danger, with the hope of making real differences there, is what inspired me to start.”
Volunteers supporting online colleagues use their own experiences about losses related to gambling to support others through one or more of our peer support room.
Whether it exchanging regular emails with someone for several months, facilitating discussions in our chat room, or responding to posts in our forum, these volunteers offer encouragement and motivation for those who experience gambling damage – both through their own gambling or loved ones.
Make a real difference
For Nigel, seeing people benefit from their emails have been “very useful”.
“While working in retail may be beneficial for some people, it is not much in terms of giving any value or purpose in my life. Now I feel I make real differences outside of work and in the world outside of me.
“Being able to share my own experience about gambling losses with others also has a positive effect on my mental health.
“Instead of hiding my past and feeling ashamed around it internally, I can accept it through the process of sharing. Am I a more down to earth and happier as a result? Of course!”
Sense of purpose
This is a feeling shared by Martin, who began volunteering with gamcare to help people through some of the same experiences he faced.
“Volunteers have built my own confidence and gave me a new goal and value – things that were lost when I gambled.
“I know how lonely and tough in the upheaval of addiction. If I can use my experience to help others, because I have been helped, that is something I definitely want to do.
“It was a long process to start, because I had to express my criminal sentence and prison sentence for theft, related to my gambling addiction. But all staff were great and very supportive while they made references and training.”
For Martin, the most useful part is there for people when they are in a dark place.
“I think it is important for people to know that they are not alone when they experience difficult times. Sometimes they can feel hopeless, so they are only there and push and arouse the spirit really useful.”
Take steps
For the two volunteers, being a supporter of online colleagues has been transformational.
“If you think of volunteer – I will say, take steps,” Martin said. “You have no loss, and you (and those you support) have many things to get.”
“Feeling like my life was trapped in a routine at that time meaning I had to find motivation to apply for a place, but I was very happy I did it,” Nigel said.
“You will soon realize that the support you provide is to make a big difference for the lives of people. There is no greater incentive to volunteer than that, so just do it!”
Can you use your gambling life experience to support others? Find out more about volunteer supporters of online colleagues and register today.
Posting “One of my regrets? Don’t do it faster!” The first time appeared in Gamcare.
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