Ian Mattingly from Activision Blizzard (left) and Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes CBE (right)
Activision’s charity gaming arm, the Call of Duty Endowment, has announced the signing of the UK Armed Forces Covenant.
By signing the covenant, an organisation ‘demonstrates its commitment to support the Armed Forces community, and this provides the signatory with the opportunity to be recognised by the Employer Recognition Scheme award’.
The signing ceremony took place during the biggest day in military sport in the UK, the British Army vs Royal Navy match at Twickenham Stadium. Representatives from the armed forces and partner organisations Walking With the Wounded and Forces Employment Charity attended the signing.
The Call of Duty Endowment uses the popularity of gaming and esports to raise awareness and money for veteran employment.
The funds raised are then used by the partner charities (Walking with the Wounded / Forces Employment Charity) to hire Employment Advisers. These work closely with veterans to find quality employment and overcome other personal challenges in their lives.
Activision said the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant ‘underscores Activision’s dedication to recognising the invaluable contributions of service personnel, veterans, reservists, and military families’.
The milestone marks the 15th anniversary of the Call of Duty Endowment.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
According to a press release, ‘the Covenant embodies a promise to uphold fairness and respect for those who have served in the Armed Forces, as well as their families. By endorsing this covenant, Activision’s Endowment reaffirms its dedication to advancing veteran employment opportunities and fostering community engagement among military personnel through innovative gaming initiatives’.
Over the last 15 years, the Endowment has placed more than 125,000 veterans into jobs in the US and the UK, creating over $7bn in economic value for veterans and their families through salaries.
Since launching in the UK in 2018, they have successfully placed a total of 3,580 veterans in skilled roles within the UK and allocated £5.1m in grants during the same period.
The news comes ahead of this year’s CODE Bowl, an esports tournament where armed forces in the UK and US compete.
“Together, we stand as a force, ensuring that those who have served find meaningful opportunities beyond the battlefield. This is not just the signing of a pledge, but a promise upheld by our collective commitment.”
Helene Imperiale, Call of Duty Endowment
Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes, said: “It is an honour to sign the Armed Forces Covenant with The Call of Duty Endowment. Activision Blizzard sits at the intersection between the Technology and Entertainment industries, key sectors that play a pivotal role in supporting veteran employment by recognising the invaluable skill sets gained through military service.
“These industries offer dynamic opportunities for individuals to leverage their transferable skills, fostering innovation and diversity in the workforce.”
Helene Imperiale, Senior Director of the Call of Duty Endowment, added: “For 15 years, the Call of Duty Endowment and Activision have championed veteran employment through tangible actions, transformative grants, annual volunteering, employee donations and wider collaborative fundraising events.
“We recognise the immeasurable value that veterans bring to the gaming industry. From engineering to game development, from strategy to teamwork, their impact is profound.
“At the heart of our contribution, lies the steadfast support of the Call of Duty community. Together, we stand as a force, ensuring that those who have served find meaningful opportunities beyond the battlefield. This is not just the signing of a pledge, but a promise upheld by our collective commitment.”
The news comes after the UK Government’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) recognised esports as an official military sport.
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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.
