Clare Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, visited the latter town’s YMCA to make a Christmas donation and discuss the future of its Esports Academy.
The Esports Academy gives youngsters the opportunity to socialise over a shared interest in gaming in a safe and positive space.
Academy members “receive instruction, direction, and encouragement so that they can build confidence, develop new skills, and have fun”.
Esports helps youths grow in meta-skills such as resilience, self-confidence, problem solving and creative thinking, all while socialising.
The academy offers five classes, with National Lottery Community Funding allowing them to be free.
But Wishaw YMCA is now looking for funding to expand its equipment and get more PCs to be able to offer more spaces.
Ms Adamson established the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on the Scottish Games Ecosystem which works across games policy.
The MSP told Lanarkshire Live: “YMCA Wishaw are doing incredible things in this community.
“Their Esports academy is ahead of the curve for where we are in Scotland.
“For people not familiar with the games sector, you have to understand that it eclipses traditional entertainment media, generating more revenue worldwide than the film and TV industries combined.
“And Esports – or competitive gaming – has a global fanbase; in South East Asia, Esports stars are big celebrities.
“Parents, carers, teachers and the kids themselves are starting to see the benefits from participating in the Esports Academy through socialising, self-confidence and transferrable skills which will be in demand for the industries of the future.
“Esports require dexterity, problem solving, literacy and numeracy, and gaming tech is being used across education, healthcare, forestry and agriculture, construction, aviation, robotics and film and TV.
“To have this Esports Academy right here in Wishaw is a fantastic boost for the kids in this community and I want to see the project expand so that more classes can be offered.”
*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.