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Play Aid

September 2024 Funding Opportunity

|Dr John Mills

Introduction

We believe that esports societies and Gaming Guilds have a unique opportunity to foster positive mental health within their communities. To support this, Play Aid is offering micro grants to help societies and guilds organize events that raise awareness about mental health while providing valuable training to their members.

Objective

Our goal is to empower esports societies and Gaming Guilds to create engaging and impactful events that promote mental health and well-being. By partnering with us, your society or guild can contribute to a critical cause while enhancing the skills and knowledge of your members. Some of the world's top esports teams have already taken our training and we'd love for your team to be next.

Grant Opportunities

As if receiving free training from some of the world's leading experts on mental health and performance isn't enough, Play Aid is offering 10 grants of up to 100GBP/115EUR to help you put on an event for your society or guild. The amount awarded will be decided by our team and based on criteria such as the impact of the event. These grants can be used to cover event-related costs such as:

  • Prizes for participants

  • Marketing and promotion

  • Event equipment and materials

We want to make it easy for you to host an event that not only entertains but also educates and empowers your community.

Event Ideas

We encourage creativity in your event planning, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Mental Health Awareness Tournament: Host a gaming tournament where participants also engage in discussions or workshops on mental health.

  • Wellness Game Night: Organize a casual gaming event that incorporates mental health tips and resources.

  • Panel Discussion and Play: Hold a panel discussion on mental health in gaming, followed by a friendly competition or gaming session.

  • Cross Guid/Society Clash: Invite another society or guild to join in and widen your knowledge and support even further.

Training Requirements

As part of the grant program, we ask that each participating society or guild to follow some of the top teams in esports and commit to the following:

  • One Member: At least one representative from your society or guild must complete the Player CARE Coach Educator training. This course is designed to equip leaders with the tools they need to support mental health in gaming communities. The Player CARE Coach Educator training takes around 4 hours to complete and also requires the training of others.

  • 12-16 Members: A minimum of 12 members from your society or guild must complete the Player CARE Coach training, which focuses on practical strategies for maintaining mental health and well-being in a gaming environment. The online Player CARE Coach training takes 1-hour to complete and is perfect for team captains and mental health conscious teammates.

We expect each society or guild to commit at least a portion of their event to collectively engaging with the training. This allows the Player CARE Coach Educator to meet the demands of their training, whilst also making for a more enjoyable and interactive training experience for everyone. Coach Educators have two options: (1) if they are confident in the content they can deliver a live workshop, or (2) if they need a bit more time, they can adopt a hybrid approach utilising our on demand version of the Player CARE Coach training as a watch party while facilitating the interactive components only.

Please note: Attendance is measured by the successful completion of pre and post surveys via our independent evaluation partner, First Person Consulting.

How to Apply

Applying for a grant is simple! Just fill out our online application form, where you’ll be asked to provide:

  • Basic Information: Your society/guild name and primary contact details.

  • Event Description: A brief overview of the event you plan to host.

  • Training Commitment: Your commitment to ensuring the required training is completed by your members.

Support and Resources

We’re here to help you every step of the way. Upon approval, we are happy to support you with (optional):

  • Marketing Materials: Templates for posters, social media posts, and other promotional content.

  • Event Planning Resources: Checklists and guides to help you organize and execute a successful event.

  • Dedicated Support: A point of contact within our team to answer any questions and provide additional support as needed.

Why Participate?

By taking part in this initiative, your society or guild will:

  • Promote Positive Mental Health: Help your members and the broader gaming community learn about and prioritize mental well-being.

  • Gain Valuable Skills: Through our training, your members will be better equipped to support themselves and others.

  • Strengthen Community Bonds: Hosting events is a great way to bring your community together around a meaningful cause.

Deadline

Applications close on the 13th of September at 7pm (BST).

Events must be completed by the 13th of December 2024 to receive payment.