British Esports & NSPCC Team Up to Host Landmark Safeguarding Event for the Esports Industry

British Esports and National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) join forces with landmark safeguarding conference aimed at uniting industry stakeholders, fostering best practices and promoting a safer esports environment for all.

Sunderland, January 16th 2024: British Esports, the national body for esports in the UK and the NSPCC, the UK’s leading children’s charity, have teamed up to help the esports sector set a new standard for safeguarding young people. 

The NSPCC Safeguarding in Esports Conference is taking place on Friday 9^th February at the Confetti X esports arena in Nottingham and will support attendees to understand their safeguarding responsibilities and ultimately protect themselves and the individuals they work with. The conference forms part of the NSPCC’s recently announced national Game Safe Festival happening from the 5^th -11^th February.

The keynote address will be delivered by Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, with additional presentations from Michelle North, Associate Head of the Child Protection in Sport Unit, amongst others. The event will share best practice from traditional sport and esports, discuss industry specific challenges and facilitate an open forum to develop further guidance that will raise the standard of safeguarding within esports.  

A recent report by the NSPCC saw an 82% rise in online grooming crimes against children in the last 5 years. The news also comes as the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, published a new report on children’s views on video gaming, illustrating the massive influence video games have on young people today and the importance of having fun whilst staying safe and healthy.

The conference is open to organisations from across the esports ecosystem as well as stakeholders from education, traditional sports and business, along with individual attendees including influencers, athletes, coaches and parents. Attendance can be both in-person and online.

Tom Dore, Vice-President at British Esports, said: “As part of our new partnership with the UK’s leading children’s charity, the NSPCC, we’re pleased to announce the Safeguarding in Esports Conference, a significant step towards the establishment of effective processes and practices for online safety and safeguarding in esports.”  

“As esports becomes ever more mainstream and appeals to a wider audience and a younger demographic, online safety and safeguarding must become a priority in order to protect everyone involved and provide a safe and secure environment.  We’re proud to partner with the NSPCC to deliver the first safeguarding in esports conference of its kind. We look forward to welcoming everyone at this inaugural event.” 

Lewie Procter, Head of Gaming Partnerships at the NSPCC, said: “This conference is a key part of the first, exciting adventure of ours into the world of gaming”.

“At the NSPCC, we work tirelessly to protect children both in the physical and online world, and the NSPCC Safeguarding in Esports Conference is a way in which we can share those values with the world of Esports, and celebrate our shared passion for gaming.

“This conference will help us to embed ourselves into this world and enable us to understand and move with the ever-changing technology of gaming, and better connect with gaming and Esports industry partners, with the goal of collaboratively advancing the cause of child safety.”

For further information please contact the NSPCC press office on 0203 772 9722 or email media@nspcc.org.uk.

Tickets are available now in limited quantities via the ‘Get Involved’ section of the official Game Safe website. Game Safe Festival | Esports tournament, workshops & more | NSPCC

The NSPCC is dedicated to collaborating with the esports industry to ensure the safety of young individuals. As a demonstration of this commitment, the attendance fee for the event is just £65 per person for in-person participation. Both the NSPCC and British Esports encourage industry stakeholders to recognise the significance of this conference and contemplate attending in person. Additionally, online alternatives are also available.

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Contacts:

Adam McGowan | Marketing Director | British Esports | press@britishesports.org

Mimi Craig | Marketing Manager | British Esports | press@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 the 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 help. 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, 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.