BAFTA/Danny Cozens Find out more about 2018's YGD Mentor Award winner, Adam Syrop
The YGD Mentor Award 2018 was presented to Adam Syrop from Impact Gamers, for his dedicated and inspiring work with young people in West Bowling, Bradford.
Speaking at the Young Game Designers ceremony on 7 July, Adam said:
WOW! It feels a bit crazy. BAFTA to me represents the best in the arts, so to be considered is mind blowing. I hope people seeing this Game Mentor award will be inspired to invest their time and skills into young people.
I set up Impact Gamers to make a difference in the lives of young people who lacked the opportunities I had growing up. A chance to go to a safe space, learn about coding, get games published online and make friends along the way.
Thanks to Impact Gamers, young people in Bradford have the opportunity to access to workshops, open arcades, afterschool groups and mentoring.
West Bowling is in the top 5% of areas of deprivation in the country, with many children who participate not attending school regularly and unable to access a PC at home. “There are issues of drugs, poverty, high unemployment and community segregation,” Adam explains. “Impact Gamers hope to address some of these barriers to success for the young people and their families.” Adam believes that the sessions help not just in learning programming and design, but talking about personal problems and developing social skills:
Using game making as a vehicle we are able to get them to come regularly and be able to talk about issues, while they develop creative skills, building confidence and pride.
