London 4 March: GambleAware, the leading independent gambling harms charity in Great Britain, has appointed Andy Boucher as its new Chair of trustees. 

Mr Boucher is a leading advocate of important social inequality issues within Great Britain and a former senior professional services partner and charted accountant. He has been a valuable member of GambleAware’s Board of trustees since December 2023 and has demonstrated his passion and commitment for addressing social issues, including how business and community organisations can collaborate more effectively. Alongside working with GambleAware, his other roles include Chair of Sir George Monoux Sixth form college, London Place Director for Business in the Community, Partnership Director for the Social Mobility Business Partnership and Vice Chair and Honorary Secretary of the charity Making the Leap.

The appointment comes as Professor Griffiths CBE, who has been a GambleAware trustee since 2017, moves into retirement and will be stepping down from her role as Chair on 1st April 2025 when the new statutory levy is introduced. 

Professor Griffiths CBE has played an integral role with GambleAware for many years, having previously held the position of Deputy Chair of trustees and Chair of the charity’s Performance and Delivery Committee. During her long career in public health, at local, regional and national levels, were appointments as President of the UK Faculty of Public Health, Associate Non-executive Director of Public Health England and Chair of the Public Health England Global Health Committee. She remains Emeritus professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a Non-executive Director for Public Health Wales. 

Under Professor Griffiths CBE’s leadership, GambleAware has consolidated its position as the leading charity working to address gambling harm in Great Britain. Through her leadership the charity has championed an evidence-based public health approach to addressing gambling harm which has ensured the delivery of effective population-based prevention activity to raise awareness of the risks of gambling. She has steered the charity during a landmark shift for the sector following the Government’s announcement that NHS England, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will each take on the roles of treatment, prevention and research commissioners respectively. This move puts the future gambling harms system on a fully statutory footing and firmly positions gambling harms alongside other core public health issues. 

Professor Griffiths CBE said: “Gambling harms are a serious public health challenge, intertwined with inequalities and poverty. They occur across all walks of life and can affect anyone. By working in partnership with others and listening to the voice of the lived experience community, I hope an evidence-led, population-health approach, supported by appropriate statutory funding, will prevent and reduce harm for all those affected. As I retire, I wish to thank all those in the charity and the wider sector for all that they do. I have worked closely with Andy in his role as Deputy Chair and offer him my full support and confidence as he leads the charity through the forthcoming period of transition. I wish to thank all GambleAware staff for their continued commitment and wish them every success in the future.” 

Mr Boucher’s commitment and experience to collaboration between business and community, alongside the need to address equality and wider societal issues will be integral for the charity as GambleAware moves to its next phase of transition. 

Mr Boucher said: “First of all I want to express huge gratitude to Siân for the immense contribution she has made over the last eight years. It is a critical time to be taking on this role as Chair of GambleAware and I am looking forward to leading the charity through this period of change. I am committed to ensuring the future gambling harms system builds on the success and expertise within the charity, which has been a driving force and leader in this space for many years. My priority will be to ensure that there is no degradation of services or programmes during the transition and that the invaluable assets and unparalleled expertise of our staff continue to benefit the system and those we are all here to support. GambleAware has a key role during this transition period and I will continue build on this and help unify the voice of organisations involved in gambling harm prevention within the new world.”
 
Mr Boucher will start as Chair of trustees on 1st April 2025.