The Video Games Ambassador (VGA) scheme has relaunched today, with a brand new online platform and the aim to recruit 1000 ambassadors to inspire the next generation of industry talent.
The VGAs, which have run for nearly a decade, links volunteers from the games industry with schools, colleges or universities to help inspire the next generation of talent.
In return for as little as an hour of their time each year, VGAs get the chance to talk to students - either remotely or in person - about their path into games and provide their advice for getting into our thriving sector
The refreshed VGA scheme, which is administered by Into Games in partnership with Ukie, aims to make this easier by:
- Revamping the online platform to make it easier for VGAs to precisely list their interests, location and speaking/mentoring opportunities that spark their interest
- Giving education institutions greater direct access to a range of VGAs directly, as well as broadening the opportunities available to them in the long term
- Providing a single source for education schemes building links with the industry, including resources for VGAs and youth organisations to use in assemblies, talks, game jams or lessons
And one of our big hopes for the new platform is to help support the industry's attempts to diversify through the #raisethegame pledge, by encouraging ambassadors from a wide range of backgrounds to share their expertise with organisations across the country.
“We have a shared responsibility as an industry to inspire the next generation of industry talent” said Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie. “We want people of all backgrounds from across games to sign up as an ambassador and we particularly encourage businesses to spread the word.”
“Being a video game ambassador is a simple way to make a big impact” said Declan Cassidy, co-founder of Into Games. “Even finding one afternoon a year to go into a school, college or university helps bring the possibility of games alive to so many – so please sign up if you can!”
Ukie will be hosting a live stream on Twitch to provide further information about the VGAs at 1pm on Friday 13th March here: http://www.twitch.tv/ukietv
Sign up
If you represent a youth organisation and would like to register your interest in hosting a video game ambassador, sign up here.
And if you'd like to become a video game ambassador, sign up to become one here.