Esports in Scotland is no longer just a niche pastime; it’s a rapidly expanding movement with the power to transform lives and build communities. At the forefront of this revolution is YMCA Wishaw, leveraging the immense appeal of gaming to connect with young people, foster essential life skills, and open up exciting new pathways for their future. This national expansion, championed by their groundbreaking work, is setting a new blueprint for youth development across the country.
Scottish Esports recently spoke with Emma Williamson, founder of Brave Esports and lead for the YMCA Wishaw Esports Academy, and Colin MacFarlane, National Programme Director for YMCA Scotland, to delve into this exciting initiative and its profound impact.
The Power of Play: More Than Just Games
“Esports is the engagement tool,” explains Colin MacFarlane. “That is one of the main draws to attract young people to opportunities”. Far from being a mere competitive outlet, the YMCA sees esports as a powerful vehicle for social development, confidence building, and leadership. This approach is rooted in core youth work methodologies, principles, and values.
Emma Williamson, whose journey began with her daughter’s passion for Fortnite, saw the potential firsthand. “I just saw how passionate they were, and I thought, we could build something around this,” she recalls. What started as a small club has blossomed into a national model, reaching young people who might not engage with traditional clubs or activities.
The Blueprint for a Brighter Future
YMCA Wishaw’s Esports Academy, with its top-end PCs and structured youth work framework, is the pioneering hub for this expansion. It supports around 60 young people weekly, aged 8 to 16, including many with additional support needs or those disengaged from school. “It gives them something to be part of, something to be proud of,” Emma says, highlighting the deep impact on participants.
The success of Wishaw has made it the “blueprint” for new YMCA esports club expansions across Scotland, including locations like Bellshill. The goal is to “conquer the world” with this innovative model, establishing Esports Academies in YMCAs nationwide.
Winning Over Parents
One of the historical challenges for esports has been parental understanding and acceptance. However, as Emma and Colin attest, attitudes are rapidly shifting. Colin notes that while traditional sports like football are “socially acceptable” and visually demonstrable, gaming has often been seen as a “negative” activity because it’s done behind closed doors.
However, the transparent and structured approach of the YMCA’s academies, where parents can “visually see what your child and young person is doing,” is changing perceptions. Emma reports a “massive waiting list” and overwhelmingly supportive parents, recognizing that “90 95% of kids must be gaming”. She emphasizes that parents now see “opportunities for learning” and “opportunities for competition” beyond just screen time. Emma also highlights the initiative of running information sessions for parents, providing updates on the Academy and the broader esports landscape.
Scaling the Wishaw Model Nationwide
As the program expands, maintaining quality and consistency across various locations is paramount. Emma leads a four-week staff training program for new YMCA staff, covering everything from “safe gathering” and coaching fundamentals to esports basics and club setup. A crucial next step is the creation of an “implementation manual” to provide a structured guide for other YMCAs to adopt the Academy model.
Moreover, the YMCA is actively fostering career pathways within the esports ecosystem. Young people like 17-year-old Ben from Brave Esports, who initially volunteered after coming through the program, are now employed within the YMCA and are being supported to pursue youth work qualifications. This synergy between youth work and esports provides “great experiences” and ensures young people are “educated, and they don’t know they’ve been educated”.
YMCA Wishaw is leading this national esports expansion. The project, supported by key partners YMCA Scotland and YMCA Europe and funded by HP, serves as the blueprint for new YMCA esports clubs across the country.
A significant collaboration is underway with CHARGE Entertainment for broadcast production training. Through the “Circuit” project, young people with care experience will design, produce, broadcast, and even commentate on tournaments, gaining invaluable skills directly from industry experts.
While YMCA Wishaw offers a bespoke SCQF Level 6 esports qualification in partnership with Edinburgh College, progression routes are also being established with institutions like New College Lanarkshire and connections to City of Glasgow College for further studies. Colin reinforces that the YMCA will “always provide advice, support, pathways, etc., to any educational program”.
Career Pathways and Digital Empowerment in Esports
The YMCA’s esports initiative goes hand-in-hand with crucial digital literacy education. Emma notes a surprising gap in basic digital skills among many young people, despite their perceived tech-savviness. The academies teach everything from creating folders and opening tabs to troubleshooting and understanding online risks, ensuring young people can “navigate PCs, keep their PCs healthy” and “keep themselves safe” online.
Colin MacFarlane highlights the importance of providing a “counter narrative” to the “toxic influences” and “misogyny” prevalent online. By engaging young men through esports, the YMCA aims to “grow better” and help them develop into “productive and supportive young men in the community”. Initiatives like the “Minecraft for Girls” club are also actively promoting inclusivity and encouraging more young women into digital and creative industries.
A Decade of Growth: The YMCA’s Long-Term Commitment to Esports
Colin MacFarlane envisions an esports academy in “every YMCA across Scotland,” potentially with “three or four in each local authority area”. He emphasizes that esports “hasn’t gone away… it’s only grown and developed”. The innovative model developed at Wishaw is already attracting international interest, with Emma having spoken about it in Bratislava.
For young people in Scotland passionate about gaming but unsure of their path, Emma encourages them to “check the local YMCA” and join communities like the Brave Esports server. Colin shares a well-known adage: ‘If you build it, they will come.’ “If you build it, they will come”. The YMCA is creating the environments and providing the “resources in their communities” to ensure young people are “seen and valued and supported as communities and citizens”.
As Colin passionately states, joining the YMCA “changed my life”, providing opportunities for education and personal growth. The expansion of YMCA esports is poised to offer similar transformative experiences, ensuring Scotland’s young gamers can turn their passion into tangible life chances.
Whether you’re a young gamer, a parent, an educator, or simply curious about the transformative power of esports in youth work, there’s more to explore from YMCA Scotland and their partners. Stay up to date on events, tournaments, and opportunities:
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