British Esports and NSPCC join forces to safeguard children in esports

Collaboration will lead the development of safeguarding in esports to create a safer ecosystem for all stakeholders to meet, play and compete.

Sunderland, Tuesday 9th April 2024 – The British Esports Federation has officially joined forces with the NSPCC enabling both organisations to work together to address safeguarding children in esports.

British Esports is the UK’s national body for esports, empowering current and future generations of esports athletes, while children’s charity, the NSPCC, is an expert in the field of safeguarding and child protection.

The partnership will see the creation of a parent’s guide to help adults understand the world of esports. There will also be the implementation of safeguarding initiatives, such as coaching guidance, streamer best practice and more.

The need for the partnership came as the NSPCC saw a significant rise in online grooming crimes against children in the past five years. With an estimated 89% of young people in the UK playing video games, it’s essential that esports is a safe space for children to engage in.

In the coming months, the NSPCC and British Esports will collaborate to develop a longer-term vision and plan to support each other’s joint ambition in several areas. The partnership has agreed several shared values, including putting children first, educating children and young people and ensuring the UK and global esports ecosystem understands its’ responsibilities to safeguarding.

The partnership also comes after the NSPCC and British Esports teamed up for the very first Safeguarding in Esports Conference earlier this year. The event was a success, with over 300 people in attendance, highlighting the demand for a broader partnership and more content and activities, which will be announced at a later date.

The partnership will help support and influence esports organisations to put the well-being of children at the forefront of their policies and procedures. It will give practical advice and guidance about how to do this. It is hoped the partnership will facilitate progress towards an industry standard that will place safeguarding at the centre of all activities within the esports ecosystem.

The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), a department within the NSPCC, works alongside traditional sports clubs, teams and institutions to ensure they are putting the well-being of the child first. As part of this collaboration, it is hoped that a similar model from the CPSU will be transferred to the esports industry.

With a growth in popularity for competitive gaming among younger players and increasing opportunities within the esports circuit for players aged 13 and up, the need for safeguarding in esports is greater than ever. 

Chester King, British Esports President, said: “British Esports have long recognised the need for effective safeguarding in esports. In comparison to traditional sport, esports is a long way behind in its’ understanding, organisation and implementation of safeguarding practices.”

“Today is a landmark moment for our industry. We are incredibly proud to partner with the NSPCC, globally renowned experts in safeguarding and child protection. Their exceptional team, led by Sir Peter Wanless, will ensure that, together, we create a safer esports ecosystem for all.”

Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of NSPCC, said: “Esports arenas are clearly where an increasing number of children are spending time. Therefore, we must be there too, working in partnership to keep them safe and building the fundamentals of safeguarding into the governance of esports just as we have done in traditional sport.”

“Children deserve to enjoy exciting and age-appropriate gaming experiences, but ones in which their safety and well-being are carefully considered. We are partnering with the British Esports Federation, the UK’s national body for esports, so together we can help keep children safe whilst enabling them to enjoy the benefits of esports and wider technologies in ways which enhance their childhoods and future lives positively.”

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Contacts

Kalam Neale | Head of Education | British Esports | education@britishesports.org 

Tom Dore | Vice President | British Esports | education@britishesports.org

About British Esports 

Established in 2016, British Esports is the national body for esports in the UK.  As one of the world’s leading esports authorities, we are the recognised member of the Global Esports Federation for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and founding member of the International Olympic Committee Esports and Gaming Liaison Group.  From nationwide amateur grassroots competition to cutting edge esports curriculum and national representation on the global stage, we’re dedicated to increasing levels of esports awareness, improving esports standards, and inspiring future esports talent.  For more information and all the latest news, visit www.britishesports.org or follow British Esports on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitch, YouTube, TikTok.

About NSPCC

The NSPCC is the leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. Using voluntary donations, which make up around 90 per cent of our funding, we help children who’ve been abused to rebuild their lives, we protect children at risk, and we find the best ways of preventing child abuse from ever happening. So when a child needs a helping hand, we’ll be there. when parents are finding it tough, we’ll be there. When laws need to change, or governments need to do more, we won’t give up until things improve. Our Childline service provides a safe, confidential place for children with no one else to turn to, whatever their worry, whenever they need help. Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our free NSPCC Helpline provides adults with a place they can get advice and support, share their concerns about a child or get general information about child protection. Adults can contact the Helpline 365 days a year. www.nspcc.og.uk.