Ygam convenes the Prevention Delivery Network to coordinate levy-funded prevention

Ygam, the British NGO Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust, convened the inaugural meeting of the Prevention Delivery Network on October 1, 2026, to assemble organizations receiving prevention funding under the new statutory levy system. The meeting invited the 33 organizations commissioned through the Gambling Harms Prevention and Resilience Fund by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), whose funding outcomes were announced in April 2026.

What did Ygam do at the inaugural meeting of the Prevention Delivery Network

The session opened a practical forum among representatives from the 33 commissioned entities in England. The stated goal was to enhance collaboration, share learning, and maximize the collective impact of levy-funded preventive activity. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about mutual work and explore ways for operational coordination.

The meeting took the form of a workshop and discussion. Participants identified areas where it is possible to share delivery data, evaluation methodologies, and training resources for professionals, in order to avoid unnecessary duplications in service delivery.

Structure, governance, and frequency of the Prevention Delivery Network

The Prevention Delivery Network will meet quarterly and serve as a practical forum for organizations executing levy-funded prevention programs. The network is led by its members; Ygam will chair the initial sessions while the structure is established, and the chairmanship will subsequently rotate among participating organizations to foster shared ownership of the project.

Members will be able to: share learning and delivery data; discuss common challenges; identify collaboration opportunities; and coordinate activities to reduce overlaps in preventive intervention. This horizontal governance aims to balance operational continuity and local control of the agenda.

Source of funding and the role of OHID

The contracts that led to the network were awarded through the Gambling Harms Prevention and Resilience Fund, a mechanism designed to finance the prevention of gambling harms in England. The commissioning body was the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), which announced the outcomes of the grants in April 2026.

OHID acts as the commissioning body for prevention in England and channeled resources from the new statutory levy aimed at funding prevention activities and building resilience against gambling harms.

What do participating organizations hope to achieve

Present representatives described the network as a platform to: improve coordination of local and national interventions; elevate the quality of evidence on what works in prevention; and optimize the use of public resources. Among the operational issues discussed were the standardization of process and outcome indicators, monitoring methods, and comparative evaluation practices.

Collaboration pathways with health and social services agencies were also discussed, as well as the need to connect prevention with referral routes for treatment and support. The practical goal stated by attendees is to avoid duplications and ensure that the investment from the levy yields measurable results.

Institutional comment from Ygam

"The creation of the Prevention Delivery Network marks an important step towards building a more connected and collaborative approach to gambling harm prevention under the new statutory levy. It was encouraging to see such strong engagement at the inaugural meeting. The network brings together organisations with significant experience and expertise in preventing gambling harms, alongside new entrants bringing fresh ideas and approaches. By working together, we can learn from one another, strengthen delivery and maximise the collective impact of the investment being made in prevention." — Emily Tofield, CEO of Ygam.

Emily Tofield's statement summarizes the network's intention to combine established expertise and novel approaches to enhance the collective performance of the investment in prevention.

Operational implications for program implementers and funders

For the 33 commissioned organizations, the network offers a channel to coordinate evaluation tools, share reporting templates, and agree on minimum monitoring standards. This should facilitate more consistent reporting to OHID and allow the commissioner to comparatively assess the effectiveness of various interventions funded by the levy.

Members also hope to agree on regional collaboration mechanisms that allow scaling effective interventions and replicating promising models without multiplying costs. Ultimately, the network serves as a sector governance space where practical exchange prevails over duplication of efforts.

Next steps and timeline

The Prevention Delivery Network will hold quarterly meetings; the first series of sessions will be chaired by Ygam until the rotation of the chairmanship is established. OHID will continue to act as the commissioner overseeing the use of funds awarded in April 2026.

Ygam and participating organizations have agreed to work on an initial package of shared resources and a timeline of indicators to be presented at the next quarterly meeting. The network seeks to establish itself as the primary operational space for the coordinated delivery of levy-funded prevention.

For readers interested in regulation and the commissioning of related prevention programs, the initiative directly connects to broader discussions on statutory funding governance and accountability in gambling harms prevention. It also offers an entry point for providers and partners wishing to understand delivery priorities and evaluation in England. See the sections on regulation and b2b for analysis and sector collaboration opportunities.