Ygam and NUS Charity launch student campaign
Ygam has joined forces with the NUS Charity to launch a new student campaign to help students recognise the signs of gambling harms and start crucial conversations.
London, 18 March 2025: Ygam has launched a new training session created to educate and promote greater awareness of the links between neurodiversity and gaming and gambling harms.
Ygam, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people, has integrated new content into its evidence-based harm prevention workshops which specifically focus on the relationship between digital harms and neurodivergence. The first session will be delivered to members of the alumni network this week, to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
The introduction of this content is in response to the growing safeguarding concern around the specific vulnerabilities that young neurodivergent individuals have in relation to their digital lives. Young people with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism and ADHD, often face unique challenges such as impulsivity, emotional regulation problems, and cognitive distortions, which can increase their susceptibility to gaming and gambling-related harm.
Research on the links between autism and gambling harms is limited but revealing. A recent study revealed that 29.8% of individuals diagnosed with gambling disorder exhibited traits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Notably, higher levels of ASD traits were linked to less severe gambling harms, while higher levels of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) traits correlated with more severe. Individuals exhibiting both ASD and ADHD traits experienced the most severe gambling-related harm, highlighting the compounded risk for individuals with multiple neurodivergent conditions.
Research also highlights that neurodivergent young people are more vulnerable to gaming harms. A study by Internet Matters found that 90% of neurodivergent young people play video games, with 58% reporting that gaming makes them happy. Whilst there are many benefits to gaming, particularly amongst neurodiverse young people, there are risks which may lead to harm. Young people with neurodiversity often face challenges such as difficulty in regulating gaming time, increased risk of online bullying, and greater exposure to inappropriate content. The intense focus and repetitive behaviours associated with autism can lead to excessive gaming, while impulsivity and difficulty in delaying gratification, common in ADHD, can exacerbate video game addiction.
Linda Scollins Smith, Ygam’s Director of Programmes, emphasised the importance of this new training: “We have had many delegates ask about the relationship between neurodiversity and gaming and gambling upon completing our initial training. There is clearly a need for greater knowledge and safeguarding in this area, and this new alumni session is a vital step towards addressing the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals.
“By equipping teachers, parents, and caregivers with the knowledge and tools to recognise and prevent gaming and gambling harms amongst neurodivergent individuals, we can create a safer digital environment for all children and young people.”
The newly designed neurodiversity session will be available to those who have completed Ygam’s initial City & Guilds Assured training. The first session will be hosted on Thursday 20 March 2025, with further dates announced in due course.
For more information about Ygam and our portfolio of education programmes, please visit our Training page or email [email protected].
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