Steph Shilton chats to BBC Radio Essex

Steph Shilton joined the station to spotlight the launch of a new national service from the EPIC Restart Foundation.

Steph Shilton appeared on BBC Radio Essex this week to spotlight a vital new initiative from the EPIC Restart Foundation, aimed at supporting families and loved ones affected by gambling harm. Speaking candidly about her lived experience supporting husband Peter Shilton – a former professional footballer – through a 45-year gambling addiction, Steph introduced the Foundation’s newly launched UK-wide support service, which offers free 1:1 and group counselling. Her interview emphasized the invisible toll addiction takes on partners, children, and close friends, an often-overlooked group in the national conversation. As the couple marks 10 years of recovery together, Steph’s advocacy has become a rallying cry for change. With gambling engagement on the rise, her call for targeted support and greater awareness comes at a critical moment for UK families.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Radio.

Steph Shilton is a qualified life coach and serves as a Patron of Studies at the University of Bristol’s Gambling Harm Hub. She has been active in the gambling harm sector for several years, delivering talks and interviews in the UK and internationally. Alongside her husband Peter Shilton, she has contributed to public campaigns around gambling reform, including government-backed initiatives aimed at reducing gambling advertising in football. The EPIC Restart Foundation’s newly launched service provides free, confidential 1:1 and group support across the UK for individuals affected by someone else’s gambling. This includes partners, children, parents, and close friends. The service responds to increasing demand for support during high-profile sporting events, when gambling activity and related harm typically rise.

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