Better Change will be on-site at St Mary’s and will engage fans in discussions around Safer Gambling before the match against Cardiff on 2nd December.
Post-game support will also be available, with the club supporting the delivery of online sessions with a Better Change gambling therapist for those requiring additional support.
To promote responsible gambling practices and provide helpful advice and guidance to fans, the club will also be sharing the insights of Head of Performance Psychology, Malcolm Frame through video, which will be shared on club channels during Safer Gambling Week 2023 (13th – 19th November).
Charlie Boss, chief commercial officer from Southampton FC said, “Promoting safer gambling is our responsibility as a club and part of our commitment to protect fans and the community.
“We’re really grateful to our partners and organisations like Better Change, who are helping to champion a safer future for our fans and the gambling industry, with responsible play at its heart.”
Southampton Football Club has a track record of supporting Safer Gambling Week, and in collaboration with its club partner Sportsbet.io, it recently hosted participants from Saints Foundation’s mental health support programme, Saints by Your Side, for a Safer Gambling Workshop with Better Change.Sportsbet.io kindly donated their hospitality box to host the workshop before the match against Rotherham on 7th October and the participants were invited to stay and enjoy the match afterwards.
David Richardson, head of strategic partnerships at Better Change, said, “Working with Southampton Football Club for over a year now has been a pleasure, they are a club that proactively make an impact with their Halo Effect forming the platform for their socially responsible activities.
“We play a part in this and support the club and the community it serves by educating about gambling and opening two-way dialogue on what is often perceived as a taboo subject.
“By breaking down the stigma we hope to signpost people who need any further support in the right direction as well as talking to fans about gambling and highlighting how this can be done safely from a positive play aspect.”
Southampton Football Club’s work in this area is part of its social responsibility pledge within The Halo Effect, which is committed to ensuring a sustainable future for the club, its fans, and its community.
Through various initiatives, the club seeks to ensure the city and the surrounding region can thrive as a place to work, live, and prosper individually and collectively.
