Hello, gaming enthusiasts! I’m Lewis! Welcome to XPN Gaming! Firstly, if you've been too busy hiding under a rock with Patrick Star himself, getting lost in the wacky world of Patrick Star: The Video Game from Outright Games, or even fighting crime down in the sewer with your favourite turtles then let me clue you in on something epic!
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, in an exciting partnership with Devolver Digital and Neonhive, is proud to unveil the ground-breaking Gamer-in-Residence role! This is the very first full-time position of its kind in the UK and Ireland, bringing fun and adventure to young patients like never before!
Glasgow Children's Hospital
As one of the dream jobs for any gamer, the Gamer-in-Residence role at Scotland’s busiest hospital ensures that every child will always have a gaming buddy! This role not only keeps young patients entertained but also helps them relax, eases feelings of isolation, and provides a fun distraction during their hospital stay.
Steven Mair, 26, is the first to step into this amazing role for the year. Along with gaming with the kids, he plans themed gaming events, like launch day celebrations for games such as EA Sports FC 2025. He also manages the charity's Gaming Volunteers and has continued fundraising for new gaming equipment in the wards.
Catherine Reid, mother of seven-year-old Jace, said: “Children in Jace’s ward can have long stays and intense treatment plans. This can include physical pain and a lot of new emotions. Often, parents can feel helpless at times. For my son Jace in particular, he is an experienced gamer. His blood disorder prevented him from going outside or starting school.
“When the Gamer-in-Residence came round to play Mario on the Nintendo, he immediately lit up and smiled. It was an instant energy boost for him mentally and physically. In reality, I think often what kids want is some quality time and gaming with new friends.”
The new Gamer-in-Residence role follows recent medical studies that show a link between playing video games and reduced anxiety in hospital settings, with some even suggesting that gaming could help alleviate pain.
Last year, over £100,000 was raised to support gaming for children in hospitals through the Games for the Weans campaign. This included £48,500 in gifts from partners like Neonhive and SPARCK, alongside fundraising efforts such as the Dundee Kiltwalk, charity streaming, and the first-ever Scottish Games Sale on Steam.
Earlier this year, the program received a significant boost with a $12,000 donation from American charity Child’s Play, which will fund hospital-adapted consoles to replace outdated Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 systems—some of which are over a decade old.
“Thank you to everyone across the gaming community for supporting this unique initiative to help young patients from across the country game in hospital,” said Kirsten Watson, CEO at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. “Not only will your support fund more consoles and games for the children’s hospital, but it now also means Scotland’s young patients will always have a Player Two.”
Kate Ludlow, Spec Ops at Devolver Digital, added: “We are proud to support Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity in their efforts to offer their young patients the adventures, escapism, and fun that video games provide. We look forward to continuing support for their Games for the Weans programme.”
If you are not quite sure how this was possible or what was "Games For The Weans". Don't worry I got you covered!
What is "Games For The Weans"?
Games For The Weans was a campaign set up to help raise funds to buy new gaming equipment, consoles and of course video games for the boys and girls at the Glasgow Children's Hospital. The fundraising also helped support the new Gamer-in-Residence role which made it so every boy and girl has a Player Two at all times. This campaign was set up by the Glasgow Children's Hospital and supported by the amazing teams at Devolver Digital and Neonhive!
To get involved there were and still are multiple choices if you feel you would like to help in any way.
Donate today using the JustGiving page which has so far raised a huge amount of £31,028!
Do a charity stream or sponsored gaming marathon! You can fundraise using JustGiving or Tiltify. Twitch creators: link your channel in place of subscriptions for your viewers to donate directly. Please advise: (As a non-US charity, we are not eligible for YouTube Giving.)
You can fundraise on your own, or get your friends, family and workplace involved. To find out more, call 0141 212 8750 or email here.
Become a Gaming Volunteer, giving up just three hours a week to come to the hospital and game with patients. Email steven.mair@gchc.scot for more information.
The Scottish Games Sale
Now the Scottish Game Sale although unfortunately finished was another way for more people to help raise money. Now in Scotland, there is a lot of unbelievable talent! To celebrate this talent Steam held a sale thanks to the team at Neonhive asking developers if they were interested in adding their game to the sale. To be eligible the team had to be located in Scotland. The teams were asked if they wanted to make a donation or put a certain percentage towards "Games For The Wean". Below is the page of several of the games added to the sale! Yes, this is the Horror section and if you haven't played half of these Shame on you!
This incredible support helped surpass the goal of over £100,000! To everyone who donated or purchased a game during the sale, know that you’ve made a real difference in the lives of these children. Thank you for your generosity!
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity is seeking new streaming partners to hold a charity stream for children in hospital. The funds raised will help young patients in Glasgow game during their stay on the wards. Contact our Gamer-in-Residence for more information:steven.mair@gchc.scot
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to take a moment to read this article, your support is always appreciated and means the world to me!
So, from all of us and myself at XPN Gaming, thank you! Oh, and guys before you go always remember to… KEEP GAMING!
(Thank you to Rachel at Neonhive for sharing this news with me)
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