Testimonials

What other people have said about Red Card during the course of our work with clients and partners.

Various Respondents

Warwickshire Council

Brief online feedback gathered following workshops delivered on June 10th & 19th, 2024:

“Really helpful and interesting. Thank you.”

“thank you very useful and gets you thinking.”

“Thank you been really useful”

“thank you – great session :-)”

“Thank you, its been really helpful.”

“Thanks Tony this has been really informative – I will speak to my client today and ask him to make contact with you.”

“That was a real eye opener thanks.”

“thank you for your time both.”

“Thank you both”

“Thank you, really interesting & useful”

ESPFA Representative

Education & Semi-Professional Football Academy

On behalf of the Education and Semi-Professional Football Academy (ESPFA), please find this letter as a supporting reference for Red Card Gambling.

During a two-week period in November 2023, the Red Card Gambling team visited all twelve of our football education sites (based across the North West and Midlands) and engaged with approximately 240+ of our post-16 students.

During their visits, the Red Card Gambling team delivered a number of high quality, informative and impactful sessions to help promote awareness and provide support around the potential dangers of gambling.

We are always looking at new ways to develop and improve the ESPFA programme, in order to continue to develop well-rounded, diligent and successful young people. Therefore by partnering with Red Card Gambling, I believe this has further enhanced the experiences of our students around a topic area that is currently seen as a taboo subject in the world of sport.

I cannot speak highly enough of all of the team at Red Card Gambling for their honesty, insightfulness and professionalism that they provided throughout the two weeks. I would recommend other organisations who work with young people to seek the expertise of Tony and his team, whilst hoping this initiative continues to receive support and funding from key stakeholders who back such projects.

If you require any further information, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Carl Latham-Henry

Senior Practitioner Early Help, and Prevention & SEND Division, Haringey Council

Hi Tony,

Firstly, a huge thank you to you and the team that made the workshop possible. I will certainly make a recommendation for this workshop to be included as part of our staff training programme, as it would certainly be beneficial.

The young people who attended all came out of the workshop with information that they previously had no idea about. In the past young people have left workshops complaining stating “how boring” or feeling that their involvement was minimal to none, describing a lack of interaction. This was the complete opposite; they eagerly described the possible outcomes of gambling and the negative effects on those we love and care for. In a short space of time, they got an understanding of how gambling can spiral out of control effecting mental, physical, and emotional health.

The turnout, level of interaction and takeaway knowledge for the young people certainly made this a successful workshop, in addition to the young people both enjoying and engaging with the workshop so highly. Our youth staff member who attended also spoke highly of the workshop and certainly via feedback from the young people was also very engaged.

Look forwards to working with RedCard in the future.

Darren Middleton

Lichfield City FC

Thank you, Tony & Darren, for your time and attention today.

The paperwork you use is good.

The slide show is excellent and powerful and very current.

The story telling is the best part as it’s believable to young footballers. This is the education they require.

You were on time presentable communicated positive and we enjoyed your company.

See you in September with our next group of young learners. If you can use current players examples it’s useful however, the education is the best part.

Warmest wishes

Darren

Ms Y. Brown

Designated Senior Mental Health Lead PHE/RSE Lead, Greig City Academy

RED CARD GAMBLING AWARENESS PRESENTATION AT GREIG CITY ACADEMY, 12^th MAY 20023

The RED CARD – Gambling Awareness presentation was delivered to some 150 students in Year 10 on 12^th May 2023. The seminar covered different types of gambling, advertising and promotion and effects of gambling as well as prevention tools and support organisations.

The presenter was excellent. The presentation displayed a clear message and opportunities, for students to ask questions, were provided. Students said that they were interested to learn that gambling led to more incidents of people taking their own lives than any other addiction.

Perhaps some local context to gambling issues could have been included e.g., Haringey has on average 24 gambling establishments to every 100,000 residents.

The Gambling Awareness presentation was an especially useful and informative session. It fitted in very well with our school’s commitment to helping keep students safe through education.

Our director of 6 form is also potentially interested in having your organisation deliver the presentation to group of 100, Year 12 students, in June. Do let me know if this is something you would be interested in?

Thank you very much to Darren for sharing your knowledge and expertise with our Year 10’s.

Rob Jones

Pastor, Brecon Elim Church, Wales.

It was great to have Tony come and share with our church how his life has been radically transformed after he was ruined by gambling addiction. His message was powerful and poignant. His story brought hope and encouragement to our church that even the darkest of situations can be redeemed. Tony is doing a vital job as he shares his testimony to many around the country who are in living in the despair and defeat of addiction

Jamie Lenton

Academy Manager & 1st Team Head Coach, Bedford United Community Football Club

Many thanks to ‘Red Card Gambling Support Project’ and its Founder Tony Kelly, for delivering an excellent workshop along with his colleague Darren on Thursday 23^rd March 2023, to our BTEC Academy Education Scholars and the coaching staff, on the issues surrounding gambling.

As an ex professional and semi-professional footballer, who is now lucky enough to work with young players in football, I fully understand the temptations and the culture surrounding gambling in everyday walks of life. Therefore, educating young people about the issues associated with gambling and the impact this can have, not only on the individual themselves, but on friends, family and work colleagues is absolutely essential.

The accessibility to gambling has never been so readily available as it is today, in the digital age we live in. Highlighting the impact of this via an interactive workshop, listening to real life stories of financial ruin, families torn apart, mental health issues and psychological breakdowns, really hits home on how gambling addiction can affect anyone and everyone.

The literature provided by Tony is superb and offers a visual for participants to take home and share with family members. The information includes advice and guidance on how to recognise gambling habits and how best to implement strategies to overcome such problems.

I strongly recommend the ‘Red Card Gambling Support Project’ workshop to players, management, coaches, staff and fans of other football clubs (both semi-professional AND professional), as well as education providers including schools, 6^th forms, colleges and universities across the country.

Many thanks Tony.

Ian Mann

CEO - Infinity Addiction Solutions

Dear Tony Kelly @ Red Card Firstly I would like to say that it was an absolute pleasure meeting you and to discuss the great work you and your team are doing at Red Card. I was completely taken back by your compassion and commitment to making a difference, by providing early intervention to young people and adults alike with Red cards unique training presentation awareness course, aimed to prevent and support those with gambling addiction by sharing Your personal story and Professional knowledge. It would be an absolute pleasure to be a part of it and support Red card in any way I can. You’re a true ambassador Tony keep up the great work. If there is anything, I can do to assist then please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Kate Osamor MP

Member of Parliament for Edmonton

Dear Mr Kelly I have been very impressed with the work and commitment of Red Card Gambling Support Project. It is work like yours that is making a difference in Edmonton and across London. Prevention of gambling addiction is essential to our society, and I am glad to hear of the good work you provide to this end. It is vital that awareness raising projects like yours are given the support they need so we can prevent people from developing destructive habits and behaviours. Such efforts to prevent problem gambling has a profound impact on the mental health of those you reach and their families and friends. I am particularly pleased to see you aim your work at young people, who are inundated with gambling adverts every hour of the day and from an early age. Education is key, and I hope you will continue to ensure our young people are aware of the dangers of gambling – whether you meet them in schools, colleges, sports clubs, prison or probation services. You have a strong asset in your own story and passion for your project, but I am also encouraged to see Red Card use professionals to deliver your services. The knowledge and experience of professional therapists and counsellors means you can go deeper into the nature of addiction and how to combat it. Best wishes and I hope you will continue to have an impact on problem gambling and gambling awareness in London and across the UK.

Leigh Ott

Curriculum Leader at Plumstead Manor School

Tony Kelly delivered a workshop for our Sixth Form Students as part of a Wellbeing Day. Through the PSHE curriculum, we tackle forms of addiction – drugs, alcohol etc – but there is little covered about gambling, which is one of the fastest growing addictions in the UK. Tony raised awareness of the risks and the impact gambling can have on family and career. He shared his personal story and his struggle and the damage that his addiction caused. This was well received by students.

Adele Duncan

Chief Executive at Gordon Moody Association

When I first started as Chief Executive at Gordon Moody Association, I met Tony Kelly at an event along with one of his colleagues and he invited me to meet up to discuss what Red Card do and also to help me better understand gambling addiction and the gambling industry as it was new to me. Fast forward a few months and we had arranged for Tony and a member of his team to attend our residential treatment centre in Beckenham to discuss his story, what Red Card aims are and to discuss working together and creating pathways for referrals into each other’s services.

Our team in Beckenham found Tony to be a very approachable, honest and kind-hearted person who himself had been in gambling addiction. Our team and Red Cards were able to discuss the programmes which each party are delivering and understand better the roles that each organisation takes on. Red Card promotes much-needed awareness and education of gambling addiction.

We thank Red Card for their time and for Tony in sharing his lived experience at the event, and we look forward to continuing our positive working relationship.

Sarah-Jayne Holmes

Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner HMP Ranby, Offender Health

I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to Tony Kelly for his dedication in the promotion of awareness to an addiction, that for too many years, has been ignored. Little has been addressed, or indeed supported, to help gamblers and their families overcome the devastation this addiction causes. Tony’s message is truly heartfelt and he speaks from his own experiences. I can only hope this invaluable service he offers, is supported, to help prevent such adversity in the future, for families where gambling could become a problem.

Simon Turner

(On LinkedIn)

I think it’s important for high profile figures to speak out about addiction. Not only does it affect everyone from all walks of life, process addictions like gambling are often seen as less damaging than substance addictions, the reality is that they are just as damaging in every way. Drugs, alcohol, sex, love, shopping, gaming, gambling, porn etc. they are all the symptoms of the disease of addiction which is wide reaching and ruins the lives of not just the individual but all those who cares for them. Good work with this group, everyone, even professional footballers need help and someone to turn to. People in general also need educating.

Justin Gardner

Football Coach at Newham 6th Form College

The workshop was very good and I would certainly recommend this to other colleges and in fact football clubs. We got a real insight into a successful footballer who was suffering from depression, & how quickly this spiralled into an addiction simply because he kept how he was feeling to himself. We really got a lot out of it and the content directly related to the situation that some of the young sporting males at this college also find themselves in.

(Following a workshop at Newham 6th Form College – April 2016)

Kathy Jones, M.B.A.C.P, C.CY.P

Counsellor (Mindset Counselling Service)

Redcard Consultancy, promotes gambling awareness / education, we know with gambling comes many other social harm issues, such as substance mis-use, crime, mental health issues , homelessness, debt and self harm to mention but a few. I have experience of 15 years as a Counselling Practitioner of practising within the field of addictions and that of addictive behaviour at Mindset Counselling Service. I am aware of the impact it has on the individual as well as the impact on their families, employers together with their social life. Many people are left feeling isolated, fearful of the future and out comes and this is why their needs need to be met which are: awareness, help, and support from a qualified counsellor. As of those who have experienced such addictions and have come through to the over side, this shows that there is hope after such an addiction. With the right support in place, there can become a positive change in their situation. This includes the use of coping strategies in place which allows the individual to achieve their full potential and that includes to enable them to return to their full potential within their life after experiencing such addictions.

Malcolm Peterson

Psychotherapist UKCP reg.

Why I support red card:

Red card is a unique project, I say this because it integrates psychotherapeutic clinicians with the insider’s knowledge of the founder Tony who is in recovery from addiction. This is a rich source of support for those struggling with gambling addiction. It also offers therapists from a variety of clinical backgrounds that enables it to work with people with a wide variety of presenting problems as well as the gambling addiction. Also therapists who work in different areas of the country will help more people access support that is sadly lacking for people suffering with this particular addiction.

Gambling addiction and mental health issues:

Many people might gamble as a way of trying to escape a depressive illness, though the gambling can feed the depression and make it a lot worse. There other severe mental health problems associated with gambling addiction such as personality disorders and anxiety disorders. Gambling addiction can affect the whole family, it may lead to out bursts of aggression and sometimes violence, sadly directed sometime at family members. The shame associated with all this can make it very hard for people to seek help and can at times lead to people taking their life.

Due to the increased level of gambling addicts in the UK, now approximately 500,000, it is imperative that more edu-cation and awareness is out there so that people from all walks of life can fully understand the huge impact GAMBLING ADDICTION can have on our lives, and that is in a very negative way. Having met with RED CARD [Tony Kelly] I was touched by their vision and passion for wanting to make a difference and i look forward to working on THE RED CARD PROJECT in the coming months.

Angela Clarke

Founder of Associates For Seed Of Mustard

I am the Founder of Associates For Seed Of Mustard (AFSOM); a legacy business which is heavily involved with activities to inspire and encourage others. One of the events is the “Celebration Of Life” Dinner Dance Ball.

Having spoken to Tony Kelly of Red Card, I took much interest in where he had been, where he is today and where he is going. Tony’s story and his business is very timely and appropriate with the increasing gambling in today’s society.

Gambling is very rife. One only has to turn the TV on, especially during the early hours of a morning to see the increasing number of games being played and influencing adverts.

Red Card offers the vital support needed for those who are becoming indulgent or have already indulged and have been sucked into the mindset of gambling.

Tony was invited to do an after dinner speech at this year’s Dinner Dance Ball. This was a formal event of over 150 people.

Tony captured his audience, by taking them on a journey, his journey. The talk was very well presented and spoken from the heart with reference to his experiences. The complimentary feedback received after the event was amazing and has also opened doors of opportunity for him.

Tony is a very passionate individual, who is eager to offer his support in a tailored way to match the needs of each situation.

I would highly recommend Red Card to any organisation working on combating gambling. This also includes individuals of the public requiring what the Red Card business is able to provide.

Tony is highly respected, knowledgeable and passionate. He is warmly wished all the best with his future endeavours and AFSOM look forward to supporting his ventures in the future.

Alan Heyes

Therapist

Tony is a larger than life thoughtful, encouraging figure who has the ability to intuitively understand and support People with Gambling issues. His gentle, non-threatening approach and demeanor are an inspiration. His organization Red Card are passionate about raising awareness and supporting people on the road to recovery Tonys real life experience means he can truly empathize with people, and I have no hesitation in recommending him and his organization.

April Mehmet

Learning support & youth mentor

Hi Tony. Yes it is important, as I see so many youngsters going into betting shops and I also see teenagers playing fruit machines in pubs etc and I hear of young ladies and men talking about going to the casino. They need to be educated because it can be addictive! Thank you April 😉

Sunny Dhadley, FDAP, CMgr, MCMI

Drug & Alcohol Service User Involvement Officer (Wolverhampton Service User Involvement Team)

I manage an independent drug/alcohol peer led service user team, we aspire to support individuals to recover from substance misuse through a variety of mechanisms. We are a non-clinical service provider, which offers wrap around support to clients accessing statutory & non statutory addiction treatment services. This includes (but is not limited to) – support with housing, welfare, access to education, training, employment, arranging volunteering placements, strategic involvement plus more.

I have been supporting Tony since the start of this year in developing his service. During this time, I have learned to understand more about gambling addiction and the impact that this can have on individuals, families and society.

I feel that Tony is ideally placed to raise awareness of gambling and its dangers in a powerful and credible way.

Angela Melo

Director Ethics, Youth and Sport Division (UNESCO) and Stuart Page - Director International Cooperation & Anti-Corruption Policy Development (ICSS)

The ICSS and UNESCO would like to sincerely thank you for sharing your story at the International Experts Meeting on the Fight Against the Manipulation of Sports Competitions which was held at Doha, Qatar, on 16 and 17 September 2015.

Your contribution has helped us clarify the future. We truly believe that with your help, we can deepen and widen the reach of our actions, especially at regional country levels where support an impact are most needed.

We trust on your continued commitment to protect the integrity and credibility of sport from manipulation and corruption and look forward to our continued cooperation.

Shannon Clemo

Head of RE and PSHE, Blue Coat School, Coventry

I would like to say thank you to Tony, Red Card Gambling, and Ben for delivering an informative, engaging, and important talk to our year 10 pupils as part of their Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) programme. Having recently attended one of their presentations, I am confident that their informative and engaging session will contribute significantly to the overall educational experience of our students.

The talk, centred around a very personal experience of the harms of gambling, and the potential risks associated with it, was not only well-researched but also presented in a manner that resonated effectively with the pupils. Ben demonstrated a keen understanding of the challenges young individuals may face in navigating the complex landscape of gambling and online gaming.

Their approach to the topic was both informative and proactive, addressing the potential consequences of irresponsible gambling behaviour while also emphasising the importance of making informed choices. Ben skilfully blended real-world examples, statistics, and interactive elements to capture the students’ attention, ensuring that the message was not only informative but also memorable.

In today’s world, where online platforms expose young individuals to various forms of entertainment, including gambling, it is essential to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to make responsible choices. Red Card Gambling has proven to be a valuable resource in this regard, offering a tailored presentation that aligns seamlessly with the objectives of our PSHE programme.

I wholeheartedly recommend Red Card Gambling as an organisation to deliver high-quality, engaging, and informative sessions around gambling for PSHE programmes. Their dedication to educating young minds about responsible decision-making in the realm of gambling will undoubtedly contribute to the development of young people in today’s society.

User of GamCare, referred by Red Card

Visit our Red Card gambling referral service page

Thank you for my referral to gam-care in regards to my uncontrollable gambling addiction.

I found the referral an easy and pleasant experience and l felt at ease in conversation as l was completely understood and treated with compassion, empathy and care due to your wisdom and awareness of personal past experience.