Cleveland Fire Brigade alongside partner organisations have joined forces and made a commitment towards reducing gambling harm in the workplace.
On 8th June 2023, at the Brigade’s headquarters in Hartlepool, our Chief Fire officer Ian Hayton alongside, Unison’s Edwin Jeffries and the Fire Brigade’s Union’s (FBU) Davey Howe signed the Gambling Workplace Charter Agreement in a drive to prevent and reduce gambling harm in the workplace and protect those employees who may struggling with gambling addiction.
The Charter establishes seven steps which must be achieved in order to receive an accreditation. The Brigade together with its partners will work towards achieving this accreditation to address the harmful effects gambling can have on the health and wellbeing of our employees.
Harmful Gambling is defined by Public Health England as “any type of repetitive gambling that disrupts or damages personal, family or recreational pursuits. It can have many and varied impact, including on an individual’s physical and mental health, relationships, housing and finances, and affect a wide range of people, such as families, colleagues and wider local communities.”
Ian Hayton, Chief Fire Officer at Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “The health and wellbeing of our employees is at the forefront of the Brigade’s values and signing the Gambling Workplace Charter Agreement is a great first step towards receiving this accreditation. We will continue to raise awareness of the detrimental effects that gambling can have on people’s lives and ensure the appropriate support mechanisms are in place for any staff affected by this issue.”
