Esports Students Rally Support for Carers Charity

Esports students at East Sussex College ran an ‘Over-the-top’ Overwatch Fundraising tournament for local charity, Care for the Carers East Sussex (CFTC), raising £300 so far.

Students encouraged anyone to either take part in the tournament or to watch it live on streaming platform Twitch. Pledges were made via the CFTC’s JustGiving page. The fundraising tournament was held on 22nd February and the event has raised more than £300 so far, but more importantly they raised awareness of the charity and what they do.

To make it fun and to engage the online audience, students decided that they had to do a forfeit when a donation was made - these included taping up their fingers, wearing a Wookie mask, a bucket on head, gardening gloves, coloured tinted glasses and bunny masks, they also played sitting on the ground!

The students invited CEO & Principal of East Sussex College, Rebecca Conroy, dignitaries from Care for the Carers East Sussex and the Mayor of Lewes, Cllr Matthew Bird who were all excited to attend.

During the event that was streamed via the College and charity Twitch accounts, there were interviews with the team from CFTC and videos from carers. A carer is anyone who looks after someone who could not do without their help, for young people this is normally a family member such as a parent, grandparent or sibling.

There are thousands of young people caring locally. “You wish that it was normal, and you could just be like the other kids running around, having fun,” said Jade, a former young carer.

The Esports department and students were blown away by the kindness that helped to promote the plight of young carers in East Sussex. The awareness and donations will help carers to receive access to vital support, so they can get a break from their caring role, so they are not left to care alone.