- Children’s charity, the NSPCC, has announced a partnership with EPIC.LAN, National Student Esports and SAF to launch the inaugural Game Safe Cup.
- The free to enter EA SPORTS FC™ 24 tournament will have a unique, creator-led format that will give players the opportunity to play against their favourite online stars.
- The tournament forms part of the charity’s Game Safe Festival, which will include a range of events that celebrate the world of gaming and encourage attendees to act now to protect young players.
Today, the NSPCC has announced the launch of the inaugural Game Safe Cup, in partnership with EPIC.LAN, National Student Esports and SAF.
The tournament will be supported by a range of high-profile EA SPORTS FC™ creators and forms part of the NSPCC’s wider Game Safe Festival, which will run from February 5th – 11th.
The Game Safe Festival aims to celebrate all that is great about the world of gaming and encourage parents, professionals who work with children and the gaming community to join the charity in its mission to create a safer online world for young people. The festival is packed with learning opportunities as well as new ways to donate and fundraise for the charity.
Tournament registration will open on January 3rd 2024 and players can find out how to sign up by following saf_gg on X (formerly known as Twitter). Online qualifiers will begin on January 13th 2024 and successful contestants will have the opportunity to play in an all-expense paid live final at Confetti X in Nottingham on February 10th and 11th.
Alongside the Game Safe Cup, the NSPCC will host a range of online and in-person events as part of the Game Safe Festival. These will be designed to equip people with the tools and confidence they need to protect young players, bring together key industry stakeholders to improve safeguarding practices across the sector and encourage everyone to fundraise for the charity by broadcasting their gameplay live as part the charity’s Press Play for the NSPCC campaign.
Lewie Procter, associate head of gaming at the NSPCC, said: “This tournament is the first, exciting adventure of ours into the world of gaming.
“At the NSPCC, we work tirelessly to protect children both in the physical and online world and the Game Safe Cup and Festival is another way in which we can help to educate parents and professionals on how to keep children safe when online and celebrate our shared passion for gaming.
“This inaugural tournament will help us to embed ourselves into this world and enable us to understand and move with the ever-changing technology of gaming.”
For further information please contact the NSPCC press office on 020 23772 9722 or email media@nspcc.org.uk
Notes to editors
Press play for the NSPCC
The Press Play for the NSPCC campaign invites streamers (aged 18 plus) to fundraise on our behalf to help protect children.
Whether you’re planning an epic timed challenge or a regular sponsored meet-up, the NSPCC is here to help you make your streaming matter more. On the Press Play landing page you will find plenty of resources to support you including overlays, infographics, and banners to use while you stream along with cause and thank you alerts for your viewers.
Every pound you raise will go towards supporting children, ensuring that the NSPCC can be here for children and young people when they need support.
For more information, visit the NSPCC website.
About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the leading children’s charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. Using voluntary donations, which make up around 90 per cent of our funding, we help children who’ve been abused to rebuild their lives, we protect children at risk, and we find the best ways of preventing child abuse from ever happening. So, when a child needs a helping hand, we’ll be there. When parents are finding it tough, we’ll help. When laws need to change, or governments need to do more, we won’t give up until things improve.
Our Childline service provides a safe, confidential place for children with no one else to turn to, whatever their worry, whenever they need help. Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our free NSPCC helpline provides adults with a place they can get advice and support, share their concerns about a child or get general information about child protection. Adults can contact the helpline 365 days a year.