Andy May knows what it means to lose everything and rebuild from the ground up.
For years, gambling was something Andy saw as harmless fun. Over time, however, it developed into a destructive addiction that affected every part of his life, leading to secrecy, fraud and ultimately prison. In 2020, at rock bottom, Andy made the decision to take control and begin his recovery.
Since then, Andy has rebuilt his life around honesty, recovery and the support of others. In 2023, he trained as a Recovery Coach, allowing him to use his lived experience to support others facing addiction and difficult periods in their own lives.
Through Onward Shift, Andy shares his story with audiences across construction an industry where stress, financial pressure and keeping problems to yourself can sometimes make difficult situations even harder to talk about.
His keynote explores gambling addiction, the consequences it can have on individuals and families, the reality of reaching rock bottom and what recovery can look like when somebody finally asks for help.
Andy’s message is ultimately one of recovery: however far things have gone, change can still begin.
In episode 39 of the Onward Shift Podcast, I’m joined by Katy Wilson from Bet Know More alongside Andy May for a powerful and emotional conversation about gambling addiction, recovery and mental health.
Together, we explore the hidden realities of gambling harm from the first bet through to the emotional, financial and psychological impact addiction can have on individuals and families. Andy bravely shares his personal journey through gambling addiction, prison and recovery, opening up about the damage addiction caused to his wellbeing, relationships and sense of identity before eventually finding a path forward.
Katy also explains why lived experience is so important when creating meaningful support services and highlights the growing concerns around gambling advertising, online accessibility and the way technology continues to normalise gambling behaviours, especially amongst younger generations.
This episode is more than just a conversation about addiction. It’s about awareness, compassion, accountability and reminding people that recovery is possible with the right support, understanding and community around them.
Yes. Our keynote speakers can be booked by construction companies, education providers and other organisations looking to start meaningful conversations around mental health and lived experience.
Pricing varies depending on the speaker, location, session length and requirements. We’ll provide a clear price before anything is booked.
Yes, we can travel across the UK and beyond.
Construction is our main focus, although our speakers can also share their experiences with audiences outside the industry where the subject and message are a good fit.
A keynote is primarily designed to share a powerful message or lived experience with a wider audience. Workshops are usually more interactive and give people more opportunity to explore a particular mental health topic, ask questions and take part in discussion or practical activities.
Imagine a project team that has spent months working under a difficult client, dealing with changing instructions and constant pressure to recover time. People are
Whenever I stand in front of a construction audience, I know there will usually be a few people wondering what a mental health talk has
Helping construction, one conversation at a time.
Helping construction, one conversation at a time.
