End Youth Homelessness (EYH), a network of UK youth homelessness charities, has announced the launch of new ‘Gaming for Good’ event backed by several UK streamers.
The initiative is designed to raise money to help homeless young people into housing and employment.
The charity is rallying influencers from the gaming world to support the event by streaming sessions with a donation-based joining fee.
Gaming for Good has garnered the support of UK influencers including PyrionFlax, Lionheartx10 and Rose and Rosie.
For two weeks in April (2nd to 17th), End Youth Homelessness is calling on the public to set up their own gaming fundraisers via Just Giving, with an aim for each participant to raise £121 in support of the 121,000 young people facing homelessness.
£121 could pay for a move on pack of household essentials such as a toaster, kettle or bedding to help a young person successfully move into independent living.
End Youth Homelessness, which is made up of 11 regional charities, has warned of an increase in youth homelessness against a backdrop of strained provision, and increases in unemployment and demand for mental health support.
2019/20 figures show that 121,000 young people asked for help from their local council because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness.
“By hosting your own Gaming for Good event, you can connect with friends and family to replicate some of the fun of real-life events while we all ensure the countdown to freedom. We want to help raise spirits as well as funds!”
Nick Connolly, End Youth Homelessness
Data from the Office for National Statistics identified that during the pandemic, more 16–24-year-olds dropped out of the UK workforce than any other age group, with EYH member charity Centrepoint predicting that 2021 could see the worst homelessness crisis in the charity’s 50-year history.
The event will raise vital funds to help charities to continue delivering support via Housing and Employment, Education and Training (EET) programmes. It hopes to engage a range of supporters, from avid online gamers, to novices, families, and those simply looking for a COVID-friendly activity.
Rose and Rosie commented: “We are very happy to be supporting End Youth Homelessness and bringing together fellow gamers to raise money for this important cause. We were shocked to learn that 121,000 young people in the UK faced homelessness last year, and with our audience containing a large number of 16-25s, we wanted to support in any way we could.
“We will be streaming our gaming event for EYH on April 17th via Twitch, and are encouraging others to set up their own events so we can make a real difference together.”
“We are very excited to be holding our first ever Gaming for Good event,” added EYH MD, Nick Connolly. “This new event will raise vital funds to support homeless young people whose prospects have been hit so hard by the pandemic.
“Also, by hosting your own Gaming for Good event, you can connect with friends and family to replicate some of the fun of real-life events while we all ensure the countdown to freedom. We want to help raise spirits as well as funds!”
You can sign up to the event at EYH.ORG.UK/gaming-for-good
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
