Today, Pippa Carter, Director of the Inspire and Achieve Foundation (IAF), met with Cllr Stuart Richardson to discuss the charity's pioneering work in using online gaming to engage hard-to-reach young people in Mansfield. Their conversation highlighted the growing potential of e-sports technology to connect unemployed young people with new opportunities.
“The most vulnerable young people won’t just walk through the door to ask for help so it’s vital we push to find innovative ways to meet young people where they are—both online and offline” shares Pippa. “We’ve embraced the digital world through our Our Space project, recognising that gaming together isn't just a pastime but a gateway to building confidence, fostering teamwork, and developing skills that align with the modern workforce”
Our Space, IAF’s virtual safe space for young people in Nottinghamshire, offers holistic support and a sense of belonging to help young people take small, steady steps on a path to an exciting future. Cllr Richardson, an advocate for bringing e-sports to Mansfield as part of the Portfolio of Regeneration and Growth, praised the innovative programme and its use of gaming messaging platform, Discord, to upskill and open doors for young people.
The Our Space project continues to grow and develop based on the needs of our service users and we’d love to hear from local stakeholders, businesses and support services who could add value to our member experience through virtual careers events or workshops. To view a demo of the platform and to find out more about how you can support this project through our corporate partnerships scheme, please reach out via our contact form.
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