British Esports Association joins Sport and Recreation Alliance and signs Mental Health Charter

British Esports Association joins Sport and Recreation Alliance and signs Mental Health Charter

Dominic Sacco
5 min read | 1 Nov 2017

November 1st, London: The British Esports Association, the not-for-profit organisation set up to promote and support grassroots esports, has joined the Sport and Recreation Alliance as a member.

The Sport and Recreation Alliance is a sports industry body that provides advice and support to members and works with the Government and policy makers. Some of their members include the Football Association, British Cycling and the England Chess Federation to name a few.

In joining, British Esports becomes the first member of the Sport and Recreation Alliance focused solely on esports.

British Esports has joined the Alliance not to push esports as a sport, but to get closer to sporting societies and bodies, to show them what esports is and the benefits it offers, to help educate them and work with them.

The sports industry has embraced esports in a big way in recent years, with sports clubs signing pro players and teams, and making investments and acquisitions in competitive gaming. In joining the Sport and Recreation Alliance, British Esports hopes to bring a greater understanding of esports to the traditional sports sector.

British Esports has also signed the Mental Health Charter, an initiative developed by the Professional Players Federation, mental health charity Mind and the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

The Charter hopes to play an instrumental role in embedding mental health within the sport and recreation sector and help create a culture shift in wider society that removes the stigma around mental health.

In signing the Charter, British Esports has made three pledges:

1. To promote wellbeing and good mental health within esports, encouraging physical activity and for players to take part in esports in moderation as part of a healthy lifestyle.

2. Allow members to send in requests around mental health and to team up with an expert to assist them.

3. Recruit ambassadors and champions who are willing to support the Charter including those who have personal experience /close experience of mental health problems and those who can champion the programme.

Rt. Hon. Ed Vaizey MP and Vice Chair of the British Esports Association, commented: “We’re delighted to have joined the Sport and Recreation Alliance, who do a lot of good work with Government, policy makers and the media.

“As the first esports association to join the Alliance, it shows they are forward-thinking and open to new digital trends. The sport industry has shown keen interest in esports over the past few years and that will no doubt increase.

“We’ve also signed the Alliance’s Mental Health Charter – we feel promoting good mental health in esports is an important part of our mission and are happy to have outlined three pledges. We’ll be looking for ambassadors in this area, so if you’re keen to get involved, let us know.”

Andrew Moss, Chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, said:“It is great to welcome the British Esports Association to our membership. The growth and popularity of esports, both professionally and at a grassroots level, is a prime example of how our world continues to evolve and influence how we get physically and mentally active.

“Sport and recreation can contribute to some of society’s biggest problems, including social inclusion and mental health, and esports has a big role to play in helping this agenda.

“It can help to bring communities together and change lives whether as a spectator, a participant or a volunteer. The British Esports Association’s pledge to take practical action around mental health is incredibly positive and we look forward to working with them as they continue to champion the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation which aims to break down the stigma and promote best practice across the sector.”

The announcement comes after the British Esports Association joined UK games industry trade body Ukie.

ENDS

About the British Esports Association

The British Esports Association is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2016 to support and promote esports in the UK.

As a national body, its aims are to foster future British talent, increase the awareness of esports and provide expertise and advice. It’s focused on the grassroots level of esports.

The Association hopes to help educate the masses – including parents, teachers, media and government – around what esports is and the benefits it offers.

Its three goals are to Promote, Improve and Inspire.

www.besports22.wpengine.com

About the Sport and Recreation Alliance

The Sport and Recreation Alliance believes that the power of sport and recreation can change lives and bring communities together. With its members and in partnership with the wider sector, it makes the most of opportunities and tackles the areas that provide a challenge.

It does this by providing advice, support and guidance and by being the voice of the sector. Working with Government, policy makers and the media, it helps grassroots sport and recreation grow and thrive.

www.sportandrecreation.org.uk


Contact

For press enquiries or for more information please contact the British Esports Association at info@britishesports.org

Dominic Sacco, content director
07834 793627
ds@britishesports.org

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