Ygam’s mission is to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harms through awareness raising, education, and research. Prevention is better than cure, and an increasingly essential part of protecting young people growing up in a digital world.
The charity was established in 2014 as a result of the lived experience of their founders. After suffering for over 25 years with a gambling addiction, Alan Lockhart died by suicide in 2010 at the age of 40. His mother Anne, a former teacher, founded the charity with her husband Keith and Lee Willows. Together they were determined to use education as a tool to raise awareness and help safeguard future generations against gaming and gambling harms.
In 2016, Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Dame Rosie Winterton MP nominated Anne to receive an NHS National Award for Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing for work done regarding gambling harms.
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