SEGA Europe Partners with The Safety Box CIC to Deliver “Intro to Gaming Workshop” to At Risk Teenagers

London, England – 8 June 2022 – SEGA® Europe’s cultural and ethnicity ERG, RISE, have partnered with the Safety Box® CIC to announce the “Intro to Gaming Workshop” on 10 June 2022 at SEGA Europe’s HQ in Brentford.

The “Intro to Gaming Workshop” will welcome at risk teenagers from Black, Asian and other minority groups, for a look behind the games industry’s curtain. This will involve a coding workshop with Coding Black Females, the largest network of black female developers in the UK, who have been commissioned to help build games in Scratch, and a chat with members of the SEGA Europe team that highlights the range of career opportunities available in games.

SEGA chose to work with The Safety Box because of their proven track record outreaching to disadvantaged young people, recognising them as the perfect partner to help introduce a range of careers in games publishing and development. The Safety Box strive to find as many opportunities as possible to help young people towards a better future, and meaningful interactions with employers throughout a person’s education helps to highlight those.

“We are so amazed at this partnership with SEGA Europe. For young people that we have worked with through the London Violence Reduction Unit’s Stronger Futures Programme, who are at risk of exclusion and CCE, it will open new opportunities that they never considered. In an ever-changing digital world, it’s so important at-risk young people especially Black, Asian and other Minority girls are given as much diversion support to become successful,” said Nathaniel Peat, Founder of The Safety Box. “We are really excited to be launching this with SEGA Europe, as it will help us to further safeguard young people, inspire them and awaken their creative potential!”

Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, said: “We are really proud that young people supported by our Stronger Futures programme are getting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in games publishing, coding and career development. We recognise the life-changing work that community-led organisations, like The Safety Box, do to support young people who are at risk of violence. That’s why we invest in programmes to help support young people through education, training, employment and positive activities to help them thrive.”

“We’re really excited to be working with The Safety Box and Coding Black Females to deliver our very first ‘Intro to Gaming Workshop’. We’re really optimistic that this day will open up avenues and potential opportunities for those attending, that they weren’t previously aware of,” said Nicky Ormrod, General Counsel and CPO at SEGA Europe. “Hopefully, this will be the first workshop of many as we aim to reach young people as frequently as possible and hopefully inspire other gaming companies to do the same.”

The Intro to Gaming Workshop will take place at SEGA Europe’s HQ in Brentford on 10 June 2022. For more information about this collaboration between SEGA Europe, The Safety Box CIC and Coding Black Females, please contact Peter Oliver, Central Communications Director at SEGA Europe ([email protected]). 

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About SEGA Europe Limited:

SEGA Europe Limited is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA CORPORATION, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe. SEGA wholly owns the video game development studios Two Point Studios, Creative Assembly, Relic Entertainment, Amplitude Studios, Sports Interactive and HARDlight. SEGA Europe’s website is located at www.sega.co.uk

THE SAFETY BOX:

The Safety Box ® CIC is a multi-award winning enterprise which delivers a range of evidenced based AQA  and CPD accredited holistic and trauma informed programs to not only those in prison, youth at risk, and young people; but also to their parents, caregivers, professionals working with youth at risk. Based in South East England, with an endless knowledge of working within the custodial and community setting, the company has helped thousands of troubled youth and also young adults too as well as delivering evidenced based early intervention strategies to schools and local authorities who are concerned. They also provide alternative programs and provisions for neuro-divergent children, young people and adults. Viewing violence through the lens of public health, The Safety Box employs an evidence-based model, proven to reduce violence in different cultural contexts. The Safety Box have had a measured impact of working with over 18,700 young people in the UK and have a proven methodology which works in both a custodial and community setting. 

London’s Violence Reduction Unit

London’s Violence Reduction Unit was set up in 2019 to lead a partnership approach to tackling violence that is rooted in prevention and early intervention. The VRU champions and promotes the voice of young people, and we listen to local people and work alongside communities to push for greater investment to deliver local change.

The VRU’s Stronger Futures programme is delivering prevention and early intervention work in the hours after school with young people aged between 10-18 who may be at risk of violence, exploitation or grooming.

A strong focus of all projects is on mentoring, in recognition of the importance of a role model in a young person’s life. Youth workers are delivering one-to-one mentoring sessions with young people to focus on decision-making, conflict resolution and how to access positive opportunities.

The programme is also delivering dedicated, tailored support for young women and girls as research suggests the needs of young women are not always met in the same way as they are for boys. For more information, visit www.london.gov.uk/vru