Tai Calon Community Housing has secured a £20,000 grant to launch a ground-breaking E-Sports initiative in collaboration with Dragons RFC.

The initiative is tailored for schools and youth groups in Blaenau Gwent, aiming to connect with gaming enthusiasts among the pupils and open doors to the rapidly expanding E-Sports industry. The grant funding comes from the National Lottery.

The project's primary objectives include:

• Fostering a sense of community
• Promoting inclusivity
• Educating students about the diverse opportunities within the E-Sports sector

Partnering with Dragons RFC, the initiative brings together the worlds of sports and gaming and targets all four secondary schools in Blaenau Gwent. Students can form teams and compete in leagues against other schools, promoting teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship.

Beyond gaming, the project introduces students to various team roles such as Manager, Content Creator, Admin and more, showcasing the diverse career paths within the E-Sports industry.

This initiative is fully inclusive, embracing all genders and individuals with physical or mental disabilities. It marks a pioneering effort in Blaenau Gwent to make E-Sports accessible to everyone.

Phillip Meek, Wellbeing Manager at Tai Calon, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery for recognising the potential of this project. This initiative introduces students to the world of E-Sports and promotes inclusivity and diverse career opportunities within the industry.”

Dan Nicholls of Dragons RFC said:

“It's been a pleasure to welcome Tai Calon, along with Phil and his team, to join us on our Dragons RFC journey into the world of Esports. To be able to add a Community Partner to our ongoing project gives us great scope to engage with a new brand of supporters throughout the Gwent region. The funding obtained will be critical to ensure we deliver on this exciting initiative via our ongoing outreach programme in Blaenau Gwent.”