Gambling harm charity Ygam has announced the imminent departure of its CEO, Dr Jane Rigbye.
Rigbye will step down in June after spending three and a half years in the role, however, she will remain supporting the charity by joining the Ygam board as a trustee.
On her departure, Rigbye commented: “Leading Ygam has been an incredible honour. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved as a team, and I know the charity will continue to go from strength to strength.
“The work we do has never been more important, and I have been continually inspired by the passion and talent of the Ygam team.”
Ygam hailed the work Rigbye has done during her tenure at the charity, highlighting that under her leadership, Ygam has enhanced its profile and reach, as well as increased its impact through the execution of “an ambitious strategy and rebrand”.
Focused on delivering education, Ygam works with schools, colleges and universities, as well as established brands such as the Scouts, Mumsnet, Place2Be and The Children’s Society.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Jane for what she has achieved during her tenure,” said Ygam’s chair, Mike Wojcik.
“Jane has played a pivotal role in strengthening our engagement with government and key stakeholders, championing the vital role of the third sector during a period of significant reform. We wish her all the best in her next chapter and look forward to building on the strong foundation she has helped to create.
“We are confident our senior leadership team will continue driving our strategy forward and making a meaningful impact.”
Helen Martin, currently Ygam’s Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as Interim CEO, and further updates regarding the recruitment of Rigbye’s permanent replacement are expected in due course.
Third sector uncertainty
The change in stewardship at Ygam comes at a time of sweeping changes across the UK gambling industry. A statutory levy for the research, education and treatment (RET) of problem gambling has been introduced, and the NHS has been appointed as chief commissioner of problem gambling.
As a result, the level of funding for charities in the third sector, that have traditionally provided around 85% of safer gambling support, remains unclear.
At the recent Deal Me Out conference, Monica Shafaq, Chief Executive of Gordon Moody, explained that the uncertainty has been further heightened by calls from some within gambling reform to exclude organisations that have been “tarnished” by taking money from the industry in the past.
“There is a view that organisations that are taking industry money shouldn’t be commissioned going forward,” she said. “That would be extremely harmful not just to the organisations, but the people that we serve because we all have a wealth of experience, skills and expertise in the sector.”
