Wales reacts to Budget ups and downs

Welsh families, businesses and politicians have been counting the cost of today's Budget, as they look to balance their own books.

Live updates

Advertisement

Wales' gambling crisis

Wales This Week, Against the Odds

by Wales This Week

From bingo to the bookies, from the casino to the Lotto, traditional opportunities for a flutter have never been far away. But is there a danger technology is making gambling just too tempting?

You can now bet on-line, and on your smartphone anytime of the day and night and some experts are concerned that it could lead to more problem gamblers.

Wales This Week, Against the Odds is on tonight at 8 on ITV Cymru Wales

Wales' gambling crisis

'More support needed' for problem gamblers in Wales

by Wales This Week
Wales This Week, Against the Odds, tonight at 8 on ITV Cymru Wales

From bingo to the bookies, from the casino to the Lotto, traditional opportunities for a flutter have never been far away; but is there a danger that technology is making gambling too tempting?

"Gambling is on the increase, there’s little doubt about that. The liberalisation of gambling over last few years has been very considerable indeed. It's an international phenomenon but Britain has taken a big part in that...

...The 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey, suggested a 40 or 50% increase in the prevalence of problem gambling in just three years”

Professor Jim Orford, University of Birmingham.

Paul Flynn MP is calling for more to be done to help problem gamblers throughout the country. There are said to be approximately 20,000 problem gamblers that could need specialist help in Wales.

Despite these alarming figures, the only specialist problem clinic available on the NHS is the National Problem Gambling Clinic in London.

“We should see gambling addiction like other addictions, and while there are warnings on machines, advising people to go to GamCare for support we don’t have a centre in Wales in order to help poeple who get into serious trouble...

...Wales should have some kind of centre to ensure we are dealing with the casualties of gambling addictions.”

Paul Flynn MP.

Last year saw the launch of a new pilot scheme in Merthyr, Cardiff, Newport and Swansea. It’s based on work by Bristol’s Addiction Recovery Agency. It offers advice and guidance known as early intervention.

"We are delighted to have been given this opportunity to expand our range of interventions in Swansea to provide a much needed service for individuals with gambling problems"

Karen Ozzati, Head of Operations, WGCADA.

It’s hoped that the pilot scheme and the host of other charities across Wales that already offer support to problem gamblers can lead the way in treating an addiction that can have such a devastating effect on the lives of individuals and their families.

Wales This Week, Against the Odds is on tonight at 8 on ITV Cymru Wales

Advertisement

Pensioners' cost of living fears

Concerns over number of Welsh pensioners cutting back on heating and food

More pensioners in Wales are cutting back on heating and food than anywhere else in the UK, according to an older people's charity. Age Cymru says 26 percent of those living on a pension here reduced their heating over the winter months.

The charity says it's because they're increasingly worried about the cost of living. We've been speaking to an 84 year old from Cardiff who says he wears two cardigans to keep warm and has to dip into his overdraft just to get by.

Pensioners' cost of living fears

'One in four' pensioners in Wales choose between heating or eating

Alfred Ford reviews his finances for the month

Alfred Ford from Cardiff has to use his overdraft to pay his bills. Despite savings and two pensions, he can't make ends meet. He uses around £300-£500 from his overdraft every month.

Money is so tight that he doesn't cook dinner twice a week. He also can't afford to buynew clothes, with his wardrobe including items he bought in the 1970s.

In order to keep heating bills down he will often wear two cardigans, as well as using thicker curtains in the winter.But Alfred is not alone. According to Age Cymru, as many as one in four pensioners in Wales are cutting back on heating and eating.

Pensioners' cost of living fears

Quarter of pensioners 'cut back on heating and eating'

As many as one in four pensioners in Wales are cutting back on heating and eating, according to research released by Age Cymru.

The charity says that figure is higher than anywhere else in the UK.

Now a 'Let's Talk Money' campaign is being launched to encourage older people to claim the benefits they are entitled to receive.

Age Cymru is concerned that so many pensioners are cutting back on basics such as heating and eating and that this problem seems to be more widespread in Wales than anywhere else in Britain.

It is vital that pensioners are getting all the money they are entitled to receive. However, we know that a third of people who are entitled to Pension Credit - which could boost their income by £1,716 a year - are not claiming it.

– Graeme Francis, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Age Cymru
£250m Swansea University work

£20m to boost engineering at Swansea University

A £20m investment is set to give Swansea University one of the most up to date engineering departments in the world.

The money from the European Regional Development Fund was announced at the beginning of the construction phase for the new Science and Innovation Campus, which is expected to create thousands of jobs in the city.

Megan Boot reports.

Load more updates