Gambling can impact every area of life, including mental and physical health, finances, relationships, education and work - even impacting those within the wider family. Gambling products are often designed to keep people engaged, the industry invests significantly in advertising that can normalise gambling and downplay risk. For parents and carers we support at PEGS, this wider context matters.

We know that Child to Parent Abuse is complex and multi-causal - for many of PEGS’ parents, our 2025 report found that 82% experienced financial controlling behaviours. Where gambling is also present, this can create an additional and significant barrier for families trying to reach out for support.

What remains essential is that families are not met with blame, and instead understanding.

Chapter One is a UK organisation focused on reducing gambling harm by improving understanding, increasing access to support, and strengthening professional awareness. They provide clear, accessible information and guidance for individuals and families impacted by gambling, alongside training for frontline professionals and practical resources that help signpost people to appropriate support services. Their work also highlights how gambling harm can be influenced by the design of gambling products, and helps to make support easier to find, more visible, and more accessible for those who need it.

Alongside this, Chapter One provides support both for individuals experiencing gambling harm themselves and those who may know someone who is. Their website includes practical tools, reflective exercises, and guidance resources, including the Preparing for Change worksheet, which is designed to help you understand your motivations, what support you have to help you and how you might go about making changes related to gambling. It can also help you plan and prepare to make life changes. This can help you understand your motivations, what support you have and how you might go about making changes related to gambling. 

We continue to advocate for responses that see the full picture of family life. Because when we understand context, we are better able to support meaningful change.

Whether it is CPA, gambling-related harm or experiences occurring within the home, families deserve to be met with understanding, not assumptions. And that there is support available.

If you would like to find out more about Chapter one, please do by clicking here.

You are not alone.