At the end of the Autumn term, a group of Alton College students on the Extended Diploma on Esports Production and Event Management hosted Winterfest, a charity event that blended the joys of Christmas with the fun of gaming. The event was almost entirely arranged by the students, giving them invaluable real-world experience of Esports event management, from the provision of refreshments to the logistics of the activities on offer.
Winterfest took advantage of the recently renovated Esports facilities at Alton College, including high-spec PCs and ninth generation consoles. From time trials on Formula 1 and Mario Kart to 1v1s on League of Legends, and even a quiz, the event had activities for everyone. The event was open to all students and staff at Alton, and was a resounding success.
It raised almost £100 for charity, an absolutely incredible achievement for these students, who will surely take this experience of event management with them in the future. The charity in question, Safe In Our World, promotes mental health awareness within the video game industry, working to break the stigma and foster a healthy dialogue surrounding these incredibly important issues. In their own words, the charity “envisions a world free of stigma, where every player feels safe”. 
Winterfest was supported by Vulpine Esports, a UK-based organisation that promotes grassroots involvement in Esports. Vulpine has been a crucial partner of Alton’s Esports course, offering work experience to various students to enrich their understanding of the industry from a work-based perspective. By supporting Winterfest, Vulpine continues to foster the education of young people who are passionate about Esports. Luke, a representative from Vulpine who attended the event, said:
“Winterfest went really well from what I could see, organisational skills were top notch and the students running the event kept everyone engaged. We at Vulpine are committed to continuing to support young people in Esports experiences, and look forward to continuing to be a part of their journey at HSDC.”
It is events like Winterfest that makes studying the Esports Production and Event Management course at Alton so rewarding. Alton Esports lecturer Lizzie Squires, who supervised the event, said:
“I am really proud of how the students organised Winterfest. This was a great chance for them to experience live events and gain some really valuable skills in event and project management. We are looking to do more to support Safe in Our World this coming year, and are already planning the next event!”
The two student organisers of the event, Theo and Elliot, were very pleased with how it turned out, with Elliot saying:
“Overall, we as a group believe that Winterfest was a great success, and gave us incredible experience in event management. This is just a small example of how the College and the Esports course can help students achieve their goals and develop their skills.”
Overall, Winterfest ‘24 was an event that both Elliot and Theo can be extremely proud of, and is a real testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone in the Esports department at Alton.
To find out more about the UAL L3 Extended Diploma in Esports Production and Event Management at Alton, please visit: https://www.hsdc.ac.uk/getting-ahead/alton-vocational/esports-btec-level-3-extended-diploma/
To find out more about Safe In Our World, please visit: https://safeinourworld.org/the-mission/