Later this month a group of young producers from Astrea Academy Dearne will appear before a panel of ‘dragons’ to pitch their ambitious ideas to roll out an e-gaming tournament across the borough as part of the Great Childhood’s Ambition’s ‘Ambition Arena’.

Dearne Young Producers were recruited through the Dearne Youth Legacy Project funded by Barnsley Council’s Cultural Development Fund and Goldthorpe Town Deal. Supported by Fusion, Barnsley’s Cultural Education Partnership and partner Jack Riley, the Young Producers piloted Game on Dearne last Autumn. The e-gaming tournament was the culmination of 7 weeks of workshops at Astrea Academy Dearne, which saw the young people working with professionals, including Adaptive Gaming and Dearne Playhouse, to plan and deliver the event. Game on Dearne was a huge success, bringing together 80 gaming fans aged between 8 and 18 to play a selection of retro games and more up-to-date titles on consoles and screens across three rooms at The Pit, in the basement of the Playhouse.

Having piloted the approach, the young people will now pitch to try and secure investment to bring ‘Game on Barnsley’ to even more children and young people across the borough this summer as part of the competitive process to win £3000 through the Great Childhood’s Ambition’s Ambition Arena.

Wish them luck!