BAFTA honour for Bradford graduate
A University of Bradford graduate who founded a children's gaming company has been honoured by BAFTA for his mentoring of young people.
Adam Syrop, programme leader at Bradford-based Impact Games CIC, received the Mentoring Award at the BAFTA Young Game Designers awards held in London.
He won the award after being nominated by the public for educating young game designers.
Impact Gamers was set up as an after school club in 2016, and became an organisation working with youth organisations teaching practical computer programming skills to children at risk of being excluded from school in deprived areas of the city.
The not-for-profit company is based at SHINE community centre in West Bowling and gives access to workshops, open arcades, after school groups and mentoring.
West Bowling is in the top five per cent of areas of deprivation in the country, with some children who participate not attending school regularly and unable to access computers at home.
Adam, a computer animation graduate, said: “We work with young people in deprived areas of Bradford teaching them to be creative with computers, offering a safe space to come, make friends, play and learn together. Using game making as a vehicle, we are able to get them to come regularly and be able to talk about issues, while they develop creative skills, building confidence and pride.
“I was drawn to the University of Bradford right from the open day, which was a breath of fresh air; the other universities I saw were stuffy and distant. The lecturers and the other students were so welcoming. They had time to show me around, answer questions and made me and my parents feel really welcomed.
“My course specialised in animation in the final year but the first two years gave me such a wide base in the whole world of multimedia and stood me in great stead when graduating and going freelance.”