09 August 2022
Ukie and Into Games will hold the first-ever VGA Awards, recognising the efforts of the network’s brilliant volunteers, during the Ukie AGM at EGX London on Thursday 22nd September.
The Video Games Ambassadors (VGAs) is the world’s largest games volunteer network, supporting young people every year through educational projects across the UK.
To date, the Video Games Ambassadors scheme has:
-
Supported over 350 educational establishments across the UK
-
Helped 30,000 young people annually to learn more about careers in games
-
Built a network of over 600 games industry volunteers
-
Volunteered over 2000 hours on educational projects that support young people in learning more about the games industry and game-making
-
Benefitted from an inclusive cohort of ambassadors which is 42% women, non-binary, and trans Ambassadors, with 21% of all Ambassadors representing minority ethnicity groups.
However, there has not been a way to celebrate the achievements of the network of volunteers who provide their time to help young people into the industry.
That’s where the VGA Awards come in. The awards will celebrate VGAs who have shown a commitment to volunteering as the Most Involved VGA, supporting the VGA community as the Most Influential VGA and making a splash as a Rising VGA who has recently joined the network.
The awards are then intended to become an annual part of the industry calendar to ensure the efforts of volunteers are continually recognised and rewarded.
Brandon Cole, Head of Partnerships & Development at Into Games stated:
“The Video Games Ambassadors program has delivered incredible impact across the UK education space since its relaunch in 2020. We’re so proud to have worked alongside Ukie in building the world’s largest games volunteer network, and can’t thank our VGAs enough for their tireless efforts in supporting the next generation of game-makers. This is our small way of saying thank you to all those who have supported us throughout the last two years.”
Shahneila Saeed, Head of Education for Ukie, said:
“Video Games Ambassadors are an inspiration to us all. Their dedication and commitment to use their spare time to help young people from all backgrounds into our wonderful sector is both extraordinarily generous and important. We look forward to celebrating their contribution to the industry at the award ceremony later this year.”
Nominations for the VGA Awards will open on Tuesday 9th August, and close one month prior to the Awards on Wednesday 24th August.
You can nominate a Video Game Ambassador, including yourself, for Most Influential Video Game Ambassador and Rising Video Game Ambassador using our nomination form located here.
--- RELEASE ENDS ---
About Ukie (The Association of UK Interactive Entertainment)
Ukie is a not for profit trade body that represents the UK games and interactive entertainment industry. Its mission is to make the UK into the best place to make, sell and play games in the world.
It represents over 500 businesses working across the UK, including game developers, publishers, platforms and service providers. It supports companies through business support programmes, political engagement, speaking with the media on behalf of the sector and running education initiatives to boost the industry talent pipeline.
The organisation also supports and manages key industry responsibility campaigns such as www.askaboutgames.com and the Get Smart About P.L.A.Y. parental outreach campaign.
Website: www.ukie.org.uk.
Contact: press@ukie.org.uk
Into Games
Into Games' mission is to create a fair and equitable pathway to skill development and career progression in games and immersive industries. They work to remove barriers to entry and provide practical guidance, low-cost training and industry connections at the right moment and place for anyone, no matter their background or circumstance.
Contact: brandon@intogames.org