Afghan students who fled their home country celebrate Edinburgh Napier graduation
A group of Afghan students who came to Edinburgh Napier University following the evacuation of their home country have spoken of their pride at graduation.
Tens of thousands of people fled Afghanistan when the country’s government fell in 2021, amid the Taliban insurgency and withdrawal of international troops.
Amin Ul Haq Majeed, Bilal Rafi, Rafi Ullah Jabarkhail, Ahmad Reshad Halimi, Allahdad Afghan, Idress Rasooly, Mujeeb Rahman Fazli, Ibrahim Anwari and his brother, Abdur Rahim Anwari, have since made Edinburgh their home and completed their studies at ENU in several different subjects, including Computing and Business Management.
They picked up degrees during the University’s summer graduation ceremonies at the Usher Hall.
Abdur Rahim Anwari already had an offer to attend ENU when the evacuation of Kabul took place two years ago.
The 29-year-old said: “Suddenly everything changed. I informed Edinburgh Napier and they replied very quickly, offering me support such as hardship funds so I could study. This was a turning point for me.
“I didn’t even have ten pounds in my pocket when I arrived.
“It was a very difficult time, but thanks to the support from the University we have made it through.
“My fellow Afghan students were in the same situation. We have become friends by going on this journey together. We’re very thankful to the University.
“It is impossible now, but one day I want to go back home to Afghanistan with what I have learned.”
Bilal Rafi said: “2021 in Afghanistan was a very big problem – we lost everything when it all happened. But when we came here, Edinburgh Napier University helped us get started, and I am very thankful for that.
“It was a very scary time. We didn’t know anyone here and our families weren’t safe back home. Everything was at risk. Everything was unstable.
“On the first day when I came to the University, I didn’t know anyone – except Amin. We didn’t know anyone and we didn’t have anything.
“But it gave us the motivation, the inspiration to complete our education, and finally complete our degree.
“You can feel it when you are here in a safe place and your family is at risk. It was very difficult, mentally, especially for the first four, six months – I couldn’t sleep at night.
“But later on, with the help of Edinburgh Napier University, especially the Safeguarding Team, we did it.”
Independent research has confirmed the huge contribution that Edinburgh’s Festivals make to the economic vitality of Edinburgh and Scotland.
The latest study – conducted across the festivals in 2022 and surveying 22,000 people – shows that the Edinburgh Festivals continue to be Scotland’s world-leading cultural brands.
These unrivalled cultural programmes deliver a major economic uplift to businesses, jobs and livelihoods in the city and further afield – helping to rebuild sectors devastated by the pandemic and an especially important boost during the cost-of-living crisis, with the Festivals themselves having a stronger focus on fair work and local suppliers.
Key findings from the study show that the Edinburgh Festivals in 2022 are:
Edinburgh Festivals are World leading cultural brands
FACT: 3.2 million attendances generated by around 700,000 attendees FACT: Remain on a par with FIFA World Cup [3.4m], despite reduced scale in 2022 Edinburgh Festivals are Increasing economic powerhouses FACT: Economic impact increased in Edinburgh from £280m [2015] to £407m [2022] FACT: Economic impact increased in Scotland from £313m [2015] to £367m [2022] Edinburgh Festivals are Important drivers in the national economy FACT: Proportion of non-Scottish staying visitors increased from 25% [2015] to 31% [2022] FACT: Spend by non-Scottish staying visitors increased from £95m [2015] to £137m [2022] FACT: Impact supported 5000 FTE jobs across Scotland Edinburgh Festivals provide Crucial support to city jobs and livelihoods FACT: Impact created 5850 FTE jobs in Edinburgh [5650 in 2015] FACT: 51% of spend on accommodation (c£85m), 25% on food & drink (c£42m) and a further 19% on shopping (c£31m) Edinburgh Festivals offer Incredible value for money FACT: Generate £33 in economic impact for every £1 invested from the public purse
For the first time this Impact Study also identifies what the figures look like when the economic actions of locals are included in the calculations – previous impact studies have focussed solely on the Festivals’ role in bringing new money into the economy.
This further analysis shows the importance, previously only anecdotal, of local and Scottish audience spending driven by the Festivals rather than by other activities:
Edinburgh Festivals are Loved by locals
FACT: Had 1.5m attendances by residents of Edinburgh/Scotland [c50% of total audience] FACT: Contribute £492m to Edinburgh and £620m to Scotland in gross impact FACT: Support 7,150 FTE jobs in Edinburgh and 8,500 FTE jobs in Scotland FACT: Overnight audience spend from across Scotland has doubled since last report
Introducing the Study, Dr Simon Gage, Chair of Festivals Edinburgh commented: “The positive impact our Festivals have on businesses, jobs and livelihoods is great news for the people of our city and country – and we need to ensure that this economic recovery is built on a solid foundation of good responsible growth, looking after our people, our place and our planet.
“In this instance our impact is primarily felt by the tourism and hospitality sectors, not by the festivals themselves and the people who make them happen – in fact, their unique cultural programmes are hanging each year by a precarious financial thread, damaged by Covid lockdowns and over 15 years of declining investment.
“We call on all funders and supporters to come together to consider their long-term role in helping the Edinburgh Festivals remain Scotland’s world leading cultural brands and a crucial economic powerhouse for people’s jobs and livelihoods.”
Commenting on the Study, Richard Naylor, Director of Research at BOP consulting said: “This Study confirms and further strengthens the key message from the earlier Impact Studies that the Festivals are a major contributor to both the local Edinburgh economy and the national Scottish economy.
“This economic impact spreads far beyond the immediate cultural economy, with the biggest beneficiary businesses being those in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
“That the Festivals have bounced back so strongly shows the importance of communal events in our post-pandemic world, with audiences and visitors increasingly seeking out unique cultural experiences such as the Edinburgh Festivals.”
Five charities spanning the length and breadth of Scotland have received a share of the funds, which will go towards helping low-income families struggling with the cost of food and supporting organisations which provide lifeline care for those affected by cancer.
Beneficiaries include Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts in Edinburgh, Launch Foods in Glasgow, Dundee-based Dundee Bairns, Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation in Elgin and Friends of ANCHOR in Aberdeen, which all received a £10,000 donation from Barratt Developments Scotland.
Douglas McLeod, Regional Managing Director for Barratt Developments Scotland, said:“As Scotland’s leading housebuilder, with a national footprint, we’re committed to giving back to the areas in which we build.
“The charities we are supporting through this fund provide vital support to families and individuals across the country who are faced with difficult circumstances.We’re pleased to be able to provide some support, and hope that it will help the charities in continuing their life-changing work across Scotland.”
The donation to Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts, will go towards helping the charity carry out its work of turning surplus food into nourishing meals for families in need, reaching marginalised groups across Edinburgh.
Emily Gifford, Fundraising Manager at Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts, said:“This generous support from Barratt Developments Scotland will go directly towards cooking, packing, and delivering meals to people in need across Edinburgh, as well as signposting towards other relevant support services.
“At the moment, we’re working with around 700 people each week who are facing diverse challenges including poverty, short and long-term physical and mental health conditions, social isolation, unemployment and debt. We are looking forward to working with the Foundation over the coming year to provide support to people throughout the city.”
With a coffee shop, Launch Coffee, on Bothwell Street in Glasgow, Launch Foods works all year round to provide children with free hot and nutritious food after their school day and during the holidays.
Craig Johnston, founder of Launch Foods, said: “For every pound we get we can feed a child in Glasgow – proving that a little can go a long way.
“We’re only a small team and not government funded, which means we rely heavily on donations. We’re grateful to have Barratt Developments on board and helping to support something that makes such a difference to so many children’s lives.”
A third of children in Dundee are living in poverty. Through Barratt Developments’ donation, Dundee Bairns can continue to provide basic needs for children in the city, helping them access food, clothing, activity, and other essentials they need to thrive.
Genna Millar, Project Coordinator at Dundee Bairns, said: “Dundee Bairns is grateful to Barratt Developments for such a generous donation of £10,000.
“The funding has come along at an especially busy time for Dundee Bairns – we are set to deliver our 7th annual summer ‘Fun and Food’ programme, delivering meals and funding for activities to over 100 schools and community projects, targeting some of the most vulnerable children in the city.”
Based in Aberdeen, Friends of ANCHOR has a collection of specialised wards and clinics within Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, giving treatment and support to those diagnosed with cancer. Barratt Development’s donation will go towards funding specially crafted experiences for those receiving end of life care for an oncology or haematology illness in the North-east of Scotland and the Northern Isles.
Sarah-Jane Hogg, Director at Friends of ANCHOR, said:“With such a generous gift from Barratt Developments, we’ll be able to fund at least 10 Making Memories experiences for patients and their loved ones.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Foundation and the Barratt team for choosing Friends of ANCHOR to benefit from this donation, every penny of which will go to the cause.”
Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation, based in Elgin, provides support for children with cancer across the UK. The organisation gives children gifts and grants – referred to as ‘sparkles’ – in memory of Abbie who passed away aged 15 on Christmas Day in 2017, after living with Sarcoma – a rare form of cancer.
Tammy Main, Abbie’s mother and Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation Charity Manager, said:“Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation is delighted to receive this hugely generous donation from Barratt Developments. We are all volunteers and they made their giving as easy as possible for us.
“It was lovely to meet Doug McLeod at the David Wilson development in Elgin to share Abbie’s inspirational story and for him to hear the amazing difference this donation will make. We really do appreciate all the support we receive from our kind community.”
For more information on Barratt Developments Scotland, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, visit: www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, has rolled out a potentially lifesaving defibrillator and CPR training programme in Edinburgh supporting the British Heart Foundation (BHF), to help improve survival rates from cardiac arrest.
There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year, but less than one in ten people survive, often because those around them don’t have the skills or confidence to perform CPR.
Now to help save more lives, Dobbies’ 4,000 team members across all 76 of its stores, including Edinburgh, and its Central Support Office are being encouraged to complete RevivR – the BHF’s online tool which teaches vital CPR skills for free in just 15 minutes – and all that is needed is a mobile phone and a firm cushion to practice on.
RevivR shows how to recognise a cardiac arrest, gives feedback on chest compressions and outlines the correct steps of using a defibrillator, giving anyone the confidence to help in the ultimate medical emergency.
The retailer has also committed to registering all of its 77 defibrillators, one in each store and Central Support Office, on The Circuit2, the national defibrillator network, which connects defibrillators to NHS ambulance services across the UK. This ensures in those crucial moments after a cardiac arrest, they can be accessed quickly to help save lives.
Paul Green, Head of People Experience, at Dobbies, said:“We are proud to be working with the British Heart Foundation on this important initiative, which we hope will help save lives.
“We want to enable all our team at the Edinburgh store to learn CPR and to know how simple defibrillators are to use. We are committed to creating a safe environment for our customers and our team, and I am proud to celebrate this landmark moment for our stores.”
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation said: “A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time and it could happen to someone you love.
“Knowing what to do in those vital moments could mean the difference between life and death. We want to thank Dobbies for their support and for working with us to make sure even more people have the skills they need to save a life.”
EDA performers representing Team Scotland grab four golds at international competition
Performers from Edinburgh Dance Academy (EDA) are celebrating after securing FIFTEEN medals, including four golds, at this year’s Dance World Cup which wrapped up over the weekend in Portugal.
EDA’s 10–13-year-old Contemporary Group were among its gold medal winners, taking the top honours for their “Lovely” routine, choreographed by teacher Jenni Inglis.
Ms Inglis, who was named the top choreographer for the UK and Ireland at the Dance Inspirations competition held in Blackpool earlier this year, was also the creator of two other gold medal winning dances: “Someone to Stay,” a Lyrical solo performance by Finn McFeely, and “Hip Hip, Chin Chin,” a Jazz Trio which also featured 15-year-old Finn along with 17-year-old Paige Gay, and 16-year-old Rhianne McAllister (above).
Rhianne (below) took a further gold in the 14-17-year-old category for her Commercial solo dance “Fancy,” which was choreographed by EDA teacher Hannah Boyle.
Finn McFeely (below) also picked up two of EDA’s silver medals, for his Jazz solo “Jumpin Jack” and as part of “Embers,” a Ballet duo performed with 14-year-old Megan Hannay, which was choreographed by teacher Millie Thomas.
Ava Robinson also secured a Team Scotland silver for EDA for her Lyrical solo “I will wait” in the 10-13-year-old category.
A further eight bronze medals were won for Team Scotland by EDA dancers across a range of group performances.
In total, 52 of the dances performed by competitors from the highly-regarded Edinburgh school secured Top 10 placings at the week-long Dance World Cup, staged in Braga, Portugal. The competition featured more than 7500 dancers from all parts of the globe.
EDA, founded by its Principal Julie Mitchell, brought 72 pupils to the event, making up the largest group of the Team Scotland contingent.
The school’s delegation was comprised of dancers from its Performance Group, aged between seven and 18, with teacher Hannah Boyle also competing for Scotland in the Over-18 section.
Tackling child poverty is a stated priority of the Scottish Government (writes Fraser of Allander Institute’s EMMA CONGREVE). Yet recent data has displayed little progress towards eradicating poverty and Scottish Government modelling now shows, with its current set of policies, the interim 2023/24 statutory targets are likely to be missed following a ‘deterioration in the macroeconomic situation’. [i]
The Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 set out Scotland’s ambition through a set of child poverty targets,. This article looks at the data to understand why the progress hoped for has not been realised.
Why has there been little progress to date in tackling child poverty?
The most recent data shows that child poverty trend looks fairly flat (chart 1). The most recent period covers 2019-20 to 2021-22, and showed the number of children in poverty actually rising slightly compared to the previous period, matched by an increase in the total number of children in Scotland. This left the headline 2019-22[1] rate at 24%, the same as 2018-19 to 2020-21.
Chart 1: Relative child poverty in Scotland
Despite the fact that Scotland is the only part of the UK to have child poverty targets, Scotland does not particularly appear to be outperforming rUK when it comes to reducing child poverty.
As chart 2 shows, whilst Scotland is towards the bottom of the pack when it comes to child poverty rates, other parts of the UK (the South East of England, Northern Ireland and the East of England) have had similar rates of progress over recent years. The data is quite volatile, but at the moment there does not appear to be evidence of Scotland forging a unique path.
Chart 2 – Child poverty rates across UK countries and regions
But what about the counter argument: in the absence of government policy, child poverty could have risen. Scottish Government analysis shows that they believe this would have indeed been the case?
However, the point still stands that there is nothing in the data so far that shows Scotland setting itself apart from elsewhere in the UK, perhaps reflecting the point that many of the policies that Scotland have in place exist in a not too dissimilar form in rUK – for example Free School Meals and an equivalent to Scotland’s Best Start Grant. And whilst these may be less generous, it is seems that they are not different enough to show up in the aggregate poverty data.
However, this should be about to change. The Scottish Child Payment started to be rolled out in 2021. The 2021-22 data collection was the first year that Scottish Child Payment claimants were picked up in the data but over the next few years we would expect it to make more of an impact as the number of claimants and the generosity of the benefit has ramped up.
Looking at our own modelled estimate, we can see this emerging trend if we look out to 2023-24 with Scotland starting to diverge from those countries/regions of the UK that it was has recently been tracking alongside (Chart 3).
Chart 3 – Modelled estimate of the effect of the Scottish Child Payment on relative poverty rates in Scotland vs the rest of the UK
One potential issue is that the levels of Scottish Child Payment picked up in the most recent data look like an underestimate compared to the figures on admin data.
There is always some disparity; it is widely known that the official surveys of income understate benefit receipt. However, the Scottish Child Payment figures look low, even once that known discrepancy has been taken into account.
This may improve as years progress, and people become more familiar with the Scottish Child Payment. However, it is a concern and will need to be monitored closely.
Beyond the Scottish Child Payment
Since its initial introduction, the Scottish Child Payment has increased in value to £25 per week, and it is now available for every child who meets the eligibility criteria. Many charities and stakeholder groups have recommended that the Scottish Government increases the Scottish Child Payment to £40, but this has so far been rejected.
The Scottish Child Payment is forecast by the Scottish Fiscal Commission to cost £405m in 2023/24. An increase to £40 would cost in the region of £250m more for an additional 2.5 percentage point reduction in poverty. The modelling suggests this would have been enough to meet the 2023/24 interim target, but still leave poverty levels some way distant from the 2030/31 target.
Clearly, some new ‘game-changing’ policies are required. Along with social security, the most obvious place to focus attention is on earnings from paid employment. Both the 2018 and the 2022 tackling child poverty delivery plans had actions relating to employability, but the Scottish Governments most optimistic assumptions were only able to predict a 2 percentage point reduction in poverty[iii].
The decisions people make around work depend on many factors, and the jobs available to them can limit options. Childcare, transport, and skills are just some of the potential intervention areas, and for them to start adding up to significant impact, investment at scale will be required. It is likely that some additional social security interventions will need to be on the cards as well if there is any chance the 2030-31 targets will be met.
The unfortunate fiscal reality and the need to prioritise better
The recent Medium Term Financial Statement reminded us that, even with the current set of policies, Scottish Government is facing a budget shortfall in the coming years. Yet, child tackling child poverty remains a clear stated objective and it is difficult to see how the targets can be met without more money being invested.
The statement set out the Scottish Government’s intention to “prioritise the programmes which have the greatest impact on delivery”. Our experience from years of scrutinising government policy development is that cost-effectiveness analysis is often absent, often due to lack of internal capacity, skills and oversight of appraisal processes[iv].
In the 2022-23 progress report[v] , the Scottish Government estimated that they had invested £3 billion on programmes targeting low income households, with £1.25 billion estimated to benefit children over the year. Prioritising this list in terms of its cost effectiveness would be a first step in working out what needs to stay, and what could justify being dropped and reinvested elsewhere.
Remember that a cost-effectiveness analysis is not just about the number of children directly lifted out of poverty as a result (although that is a good place to start). It is also about other objectives, such as reaching those in the deepest poverty and moving them close to the poverty line, or investing in policies that help contribute to other government priorities, such as tackling climate change.
Evaluation evidence is also lacking. Six years on from the first tackling child poverty delivery plan, we should be seeing the results of which policies have been in place over that time.
Robust evaluation which is able to isolate the impact of particular policies on child poverty is difficult to do, but without some evidence in this direction, objective prioritisation is a lot harder to do, if not impossible.
A child poverty policy evaluation framework[i] was launched in 2023 and the 2022-23 annual report stated that there will be a review of progress after 18 months. Whether or not this framework will deliver enough, and come soon enough to make a difference in time to meet the targets, remains in doubt in our minds.
[1] Analysis of Scottish poverty in Scotland is based on multiple years of aggregated data, with three years of data the norm. Due to issues with collecting data during the height of the pandemic, data for 2020-21 is not usable and for the three year periods that contain the 2020-21 year, only two years worth of data is included. This is not ideal, but is a sensible approach to deal with this exceptional circumstance.
[i]Scottish Government (2023) Child Poverty – monitoring and evaluation: policy evaluation framework available here
[ii]Scottish Government (2023) Tackling Child Poverty Progress Report 2022-23, available here
[iii]See p18 of JRF & Save the Children’s response to the 2022 to the Scottish Government’s second Tackling Child Poverty Delivery plan for further explanation, available here
[iv]Fraser of Allander Institute (2022) Improving Emissions Assessment of Scottish Government Spending Decisions and the Scottish Budget, available here. Although the report was ultimately about emissions appraisal, many of the findings relate to appraisal across all policy areas.
[v] Scottish Government (2023) Tackling Child Poverty Progress Report 2022-23, Annex B accessed here
NEW YOUTH WORKPLACE AT SPARTANS COMMUNITY FOOTBALL ACADEMY
Leading construction and property consultancy Thomas & Adamson (T&A) is helping revitalise a community football centre with the creation of a carbon neutral, state-of-the-art youth facility in North Edinburgh.
Work begins on the new £1m Spartans Youth Workplace building later this year, with T&A providing project management, quantity surveying and principal designer services.
The new 200m2 building will replace the Spartans Youth Community group’s temporary facility currently sited next to Ainslie Park, the home stadium of football club, Spartans FC, in Pilton.
The innovative project will be one of the most sustainable community facility builds in Scotland, with local labour and responsibly sourced materials used in construction, and photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and air source heat pumps systems installed to reduce emissions and fossil fuel energy consumption.
Once opened, the centre will include a kitchen, arts centre and community space where young people can socialise and work together. It will also feature a roof terrace, pool tables and table tennis.
A key part of the development has been engaging with young people in the community to take their needs and wishes on board, alongside youth workers and other local stakeholders who all contributed to the design.
David Young, Partner at Thomas & Adamson, said: “Thomas & Adamson is delighted to be involved in helping bring this new community facility to life, for the benefits to the local community, but also for the sustainable nature of both the construction and the eventual running of the Workspace”.
While affiliated to the Scottish Professional Football League Two side Spartans FC, the new Spartans Youth Workplace has been funded by private investment and public grants as a hub for the whole community in the Ainslie Park area to enjoy.
The building work is due to begin in autumn 2023 and is estimated to take 24 weeks.
With new Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible movies hitting the big screen this summer, film fans can take the experience a step further and explore the locations that double as fictional worlds with small-group tour specialists, Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com).
This summer, blockbusters The Flash and Indiana Jones: The Dial of Destiny see the titular heroes chase nefarious villains along the streets of Glasgow. While the highly anticipated, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 has seen incredible action scenes shot around the UK – including a train crashing into a quarry at Stoney Middleton. With a Rabbie’s private tour, guests can design an exclusive, personalised tour to visit the worlds of their favourite franchises.
Described as ‘perfectly cast’ as Gotham, Glasgow features prominently in an opening chase scene from The Flash where the hero and Batman pursue several villains. Design a tour following in their tracks along George Square before exploring other iconic DC locations across Scotland – like the Glasgow Necropolis, Cathedral and Bridge of Sighs from The Batman (2022) and the beautiful Caringorms as seen in the opening plane scene from The Dark Knight Rises.
Indiana Jones is famed for his continental adventures, but Scotland features heavily in this summer’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Follow the intrepid archaeologist’s chase down the iconic St. Vincent Street in central Glasgow, before journeying south to the Leaderfoot Viaduct in Melrose where an intense action scene is rumoured to take place.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 is one of this year’s most hotly anticipated films. Shot across the UK, action star Tom Cruise left a trail of excitement and debris in his wake. Journey to Lewisham to see where Cruise ran on top of a train in an exhilarating sequence, before visiting Stoney Middleton, where the hero witnessed a train crash into a quarry.
See the spot in the Lake District where Cruise attempted a daredevil parachute jump from a helicopter and visit the centre of London to follow the chase scene which was a highlight of the previous instalment, Mission Impossible: Fallout (and from which Cruise famously broke his ankle).
Rabbie’s UK and Ireland tours depart from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, London, Manchester, Bristol, Belfast and Dublin.
For more information about Rabbie’s and to book a private or a scheduled tour, visit www.rabbies.com.
Gamers, gaming industry leaders and content creators are being asked to come together and help grant 200 life-changing wishes for critically ill children across the UK.
Make-A-Wish UK’s Wish 200 Week between 24–30 July 2023 invites gamers to do sponsored live streams, challenges and special events to help raise money to make magical wishes come true for up to 200 children aged between 3-18 years-old.
More than 63,000 children in the UK have been diagnosed with a critical condition and are eligible for a wish. That number is estimated to reach over 73,000 by 2030.
Make-A-Wish UK has seen a 400% increase in gaming-related wishes since 2017, with more children than ever finding solace in gaming whilst undergoing treatment for critical conditions, meaning many of the wishes will go to members of the gaming community themselves.
Since 2021 when Wish 200 Week was first established, the gaming community has come together to raise a staggering £696,000 and delivered over 300 wishes to critically ill children and their families, helping them to create long-lasting memories.
11-year-old Cameron who lives with Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition resulting in several heart defects, got a surprise wish to meet YouTuber SB737. After hearing SB737’s voice, Cameron knew that he’d finally be meeting his idol.
“The surprise on his face was the best part of the wish! It was so special because it was something that money can’t buy,” said Mum, Victoria.
“With a disability it’s hard for him to go out and play,” said Victoria. “Gaming allows him to play with his friends and it provides a way for him to escape reality as he immerses himself into the action of videogame characters.”
For Cameron, his favourite part of the wish was being able to hang out with SB737 and play games together. Watching Cameron meet his idol was the highlight of the trip for Victoria: “I loved watching Cameron talk to him and share photos of the day with his mates. To see Cameron so happy is all I ever wished for, Make-A-Wish made that happen – so my wish has also been granted!” said Victoria.
Under the campaign slogan, ‘1 Week, 20 hours, your way’ content creators including CozyGamerKat will be holding live streams with all the money raised will go directly to granting wishes for 200 more children and young people.
Jason Suckley, Chief Executive of Make-A-Wish UK said: “Gamers and non-gamers alike have the power to help us grant wishes for as many critically ill children across the UK as possible, many who have had childhood stolen away from them by their illness.
“We’re receiving a growing number of gaming-related wishes, which we know can leave a profound and lasting impact on critically ill children and their families. ”
Gamers wanting to set up a live stream or special event can sign up to offer their support here and people can watch and support them to reach their fundraising totals.
Non-gamers can also take part and support those children who are waiting for a wish by entering the Make-A-Wish prize draw to win the ultimate gaming bundle consisting of a gaming PC built by Gaming Content Creator Sacriel, a gaming desk and chair bundle, Xbox and a PS5.
And for those who can’t take part during the week, are still able to complete their 20-hour challenge at a time that suits them.
Miniclip, who have supported Make-A-Wish UK for many years, have now officially partnered with the charity and are once again supporting this year’s campaign.
Miniclip’s CEO, Saad Choudri, said: “This is our third year of supporting this incredible campaign. It’s great to see our industry come together to raise much-needed funds to help make these children’s wishes come true.
“Together, with our friends in the gaming industry and our players, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of these children.”
Rob Small, President and Co-Founder of Miniclip, is a Patron for Make-A-Wish UK. Rob helped the charity to create the Wish 200 Week campaign. Rob said: “It has been a joy to see the gaming community coming together to help grant wishes for fellow gamers over the years.
“Seeing the support that Make-A-Wish has received, I am proud to be part of an industry that is using its power to help others. Wish 200 Week is an urgent campaign to ensure more children receive their wishes in time. I hope the industry will once again help them rise to this challenge and change the lives of seriously ill children.”
Supporters and sponsors who are supporting the campaign include: Miniclip, Hutch, MTG, First Touch Games, Sports Interactive, Venatus, Tripledot and SUMO Group.
To find out how to get involved in the campaign, visit:
