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TEx – Trust the Experience, Not the Dealer

TEx was an Erasmus+ project focused on developing an international training package for experts by experience in the field of gambling harm. Led by organizations from Finland, Ireland, and Norway, the project strengthened the role of lived experience in prevention, education, and support—creating tools and materials now available for broader use across Europe.

Trust the Experience, Not the Dealer

Strengthening the Role of Experts by Experience in Gambling Harm Prevention

TEx – Trust the Experience, Not the Dealer was a three-year Erasmus+ project (10/2020–09/2023) focused on developing an international training package for experts by experience (EBEs) in the field of gambling harm. The project was carried out in collaboration between three organizations:

  • Sosped Foundation – Finland
  • Extern Ireland – Ireland
  • Spillavgighet – Norway

Although the project centered on gambling addiction, its outputs are designed to be transferable to other fields of experiential expertise and community-based support.

Purpose and Vision

In all three participating countries, the need for experiential knowledge, new approaches, and concrete tools in social and healthcare services is growing. The TEx project aimed to:

  • Strengthen the role of experts by experience in service design, education, and prevention
  • Support professionals working with people affected by gambling harm
  • Create a standardized, international training model for future EBEs
  • Provide self-care, public speaking, and social influencing tools for people drawing from lived experience

The project offered a unique opportunity to examine gambling harm across national contexts, while identifying shared challenges and universal elements of recovery and support.

An Innovative, Experience-Led Approach

What sets TEx apart is that the project was conceived by experts by experience themselves. Their voices shaped the content, focus, and delivery of the training. As gambling systems differ between countries, the project’s international scope allowed for a broader understanding of harm, policy, and service gaps—while highlighting the universal need for peer-led insight and community support.

The final training package includes materials on:

  • Well-being and self-care for EBEs
  • Effective storytelling and public speaking
  • Advocacy and influencing practices in social and healthcare settings

All materials were translated into English and are available for adaptation and use beyond the original project.

Project Implementation and Results

Three pilot trainings for EBEs were held in:

  • Finland (Sosped Foundation)
  • Ireland (Extern Ireland)
  • Norway (Spillavgighet)

Each pilot group helped test and co-develop the content and methods. The Finnish training has since been formally approved into the PAIKKO system, enabling EBE participants to receive recognized certification comparable to vocational qualifications in education and guidance.

The training materials remain in use in all three countries and continue to support the development of new groups of trained EBEs in the field of gambling harm and beyond.

Training Materials

You can explore the workbooks and training content developed during the project:

These resources are designed to help organizations develop their own expert-by-experience programs or enhance existing ones with a solid foundation in mental health awareness, peer expertise, and meaningful social contribution.