The UK’s Responsible Gambling Trust has restructured its board of trustees to reflect the charity’s new status as both a fundraiser and a distributor of grants.
In developing its commissioning plans, the Responsible Gambling Trust has taken into account the need to generate widespread trust and credibility, particularly in view of the investment of both fundraising and commissioning functions, in a single, industry-led body and this includes the appointment of wholly independent trustees - that is, independent of the gambling industry, service providers, the Gambling Commission and anyone else that may have a vested interest.
Neil Goulden, chairman of the Responsible Gambling Trust, explained: “A number of trustees have willingly stood down to enable us to meet our promise to create an appropriate balance of industry-related and independent trustees. We have now appointed Liz Barclay (a broadcast journalist and chair of Camden Citizens Advice Bureau) who, together with Gerry Sutcliffe MP (former Gambling Minister) and Jonathan Wolff (Professor of Political Philosophy at University College London and a member of the Gambling Review Body led by Sir Alan Budd which recommended a voluntary system for funding research, education and treatment), represent our first three independent trustees.”
On being appointed as a trustee, Liz Barclay, said: “As a consumer and personal finance journalist and money adviser with experience of the impact of gambling, I am delighted to join the board of trustees at the Responsible Gambling Trust. I very much look forward to helping guide the charity to achieve its key objective to become an independent, authoritative and respected voice for responsible gambling in Britain.”
Marc Etches, chief executive of the Responsible Gambling Trust, added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Carl Leaver (group chief executive of Gala Coral Group) to the board of trustees and to express my sincere thanks to the outgoing trustees, namely Ian Burke (chief executive of Rank Group), Andrew Love (deputy chairman of the Ritz Hotel and chairman of the Ritz Club), Ralph Topping (chief executive of William Hill) and Ken Turner (chief executive of Sceptre Leisure) for the tremendous commitment and support that they gave to The GREaT Foundation and the subsequent merger with the Responsible Gambling Fund in creating the Responsible Gambling Trust.”
The remaining trustees are Neil Goulden, Richard Glynn (chief executive of Ladbrokes), Nick Harding (chief executive of Praesepe), Clive Hawkswood (chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association) and Jonathan Paveley (executive chairman of Admiral Taverns) The Responsible Gambling Trust remains committed to appointing a further two independent trustees in due course in order to deliver a fully balanced board of five industry trustees, five independent trustees and a chair.
