The Gaming Project is based throughout Carlow County and runs from our various buildings.
What Do We Do?
The Gaming Project offers specialist groups for young people who enjoy video games. We intentionally use the positive aspects of gaming to deliver youth work. Games are a vehicle we use to bringing young people together, support them develop learn new skills and express their creativity. We take a young person led approach to our work, supporting young people to pursue their passions and interests.
However, we also recognise that like any hobby or interest, playing digital games can have a negative impact on young people’s wellbeing. Our programmes promote healthy behaviours whilst gaming such as when to take breaks, how to control temper in game and using the internet safely. Young people have shared that this helps them enjoy gaming more, preventing their digital gaming from negatively other parts of their lives.
Ordinarily, there are several different Gaming Groups across multiple sites, embedded into CRYS’ centres and delivered by youth workers based in each. In these groups, young people can be involved in youth work that specifically focuses on the needs of young gamers. If young people are nervous or don’t feel able to join groups immediately, we will also do whatever we can to support them and ensure that they receive the support they need, normally in partnership with other CRYS projects such as the YARC.
In addition, we also provide lots of fun gaming events throughout the year, such as our Game-Fest event that works like a mini-gaming convention for young people, and our Game-Fest Summer Camp that we facilitate in partnership with IT Carlow.
What Can Young People Expect?
Gaming groups offer a space where young people can be open about the games they enjoy and meet others who also love gaming, with youth workers who will support them. In many of our youth centres we have been building ‘gaming spaces’ (pictured below) containing games and systems that are both new and retro. In these spaces, young people can express their creativity, play games in a social way, develop technical skills and make new friends with similar interests.
Our normal groups are limited to around 13 young people as this creates the best environment for everyone to feeling included and supported. However, throughout the year there are larger events such as our Game-Fest Summer Camp, Taster Days and big gaming events that are open to large amounts of young people. We want to provide the best possible opportunities to young gamers, so we listen carefully to what young people say and are always up for exploring new ideas.
What Can Parents Expect?
The confidence that young people are supported by a team of well trained and experienced Youth Workers, Youth Support Workers, and Volunteers. The knowledge that young people will be in a safe, comfortable, fun environment.
It might also be encouraging to hear that this project has been featured as an international example of good practice which you can read about here and that young people attending Game-Fest Summer Camp won a national ESB Tech-Fest award for their technical and creative achievements.
To Quote Some Of Our Young People
‘This is the best thing EVER, normally I just play games on my own but this way I can do it and be social’
‘I really mean it, this is the BEST part of my week, I love it here’
‘One of the best things I’ve learned is to have boundaries in my gaming’
For Further Information
Carlow Town – The Vault
Contact:
Jamie: 085 1397397 or jamie@carlowys.ie
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Carlow – Community Projects
Contact:
Graiguecullen Youth Project – Fruithill
Siobhan: 085 7897339
Theresa: 086 8054601
Tullow Road Youth Project -John Sweeney
Brid: 085 7897279
Ciara: 085 8571372
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Tullow Youth Project – Bishops House
Contact:
Cathy: 085 8338732
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Bagenalstown Youth Project – Gleann na Bearú
Contact:
Mairead: 086 7525587
Marcella: 086 7806405
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