Gaming for Good: How to safeguard fundraisers

Gamers are a vital community for charities, offering fun and interesting ways to raise awareness and funds. 

They regularly stage live streaming events and run awareness campaigns, either in aid of their favourite good cause or through formal arrangements on behalf of charities as an official partner.

According to latest available statistics, the UK video games industry was worth £7.9bn in 2023, with nearly three in five charities already spotting this huge market and using gamification in their fundraising.

But what must not be forgotten amid this increasing interest in this form of fundraising is charities’ responsibility to support gamers’ wellbeing and safety.

This is needed to ensure their fundraising and gaming activity for good causes does not adversely impact their mental health.

They also need to be protected from online threats such as trolling behaviour by those posting comments.  

Here we look at latest guidance from the Fundraising Regulator on how charities can better protect their gaming fundraisers.

Are gamers fundraising “in aid of” or “on behalf of” your charity?

Before charities look at the ways they can protect their gaming fundraisers it is important they understand the type of relationship involved. This will decide which action to take.

Most gaming fundraisers will be carry out their gaming for good activity “in aid of” the charity. This is where they do not have a formal arrangement with the charity in place but are fundraising independently.

In its latest advice on online gaming fundraisers the Fundraising Regulator defines “in aid of” activity as those whose relationship with a charity is limited to such activity as downloading a fundraising information pack.

Those fundraising “on behalf of” the charity are more proactively involved with the charity, for example they have been specifically recruited by the charity to fundraise and raise awareness. In this instance a charity may also have negotiated in advance details of the fundraiser’s activity or have a member of staff directly involved in their fundraising stream.

Charities are advised to provide direct wellbeing and safety support to those working “on their behalf” and ensure standard guidance is publicly available to those fundraising “in aid of” their work.  

How to ensure safety and wellbeing for gaming and streaming fundraisers

However gamers are supporting your cause, below are four key steps to take to support their safety and wellbeing.  

Make sure content is age-appropriate

Age requirements of certain games may be an issue for gamers and their audience taking part in live streaming fundraisers.

“When planning to stream video games that have a PEGI rating (Pan European Game Information rating), make sure the rating is suitable for the likely audience,” the Fundraising Regulator advises charities.

“If you are in doubt about the suitability of a game, you should choose a different game.”

Understand possible gaming risks

Gaming can impact participants’ behaviour and wellbeing, and charities need to be aware of its impact on their fundraisers as well as the audience, “particularly those in vulnerable circumstances”.

Charities also need to be aware of the impact of certain aspects of online gaming that are like gambling, such as those with in-game purchases including “loot boxes”. If these are in a game, charities should check that the game developer upholds the UKIE Principles and Guidance on Paid Loot Boxes.

Similarly, charities should agree beforehand with “on behalf of” fundraisers the remit of any incentivising of donations to ensure they are appropriate and do not promote gambling.

Moderate the chat

Charities should consider appointing one or more moderators when a gaming for good fundraiser by an “on behalf” fundraiser is taking place. “In aid of” fundraisers should be encouraged to ensure online chat for their events have moderation.

Moderators can supervise the live chat, remove spam, delete trolling, and in some cases, block users.  

“Your moderators should be people you trust to maintain your standards of behaviour on social media, are familiar with online streaming, and know how the streaming platform(s) that you use work,” says the Fundraising Regulator.

Offer training and support

Tackling potential trolls should also involve training charity staff so that they know how to deal with incidents and to support and protect the safety and wellbeing of their gaming fundraisers.

“Make sure they know when and how to deal with, escalate, and report content when appropriate,” advises the Fundraising Regulator. Reporting of incidents can be made to social media and streaming platforms, as well as to the police.

Those who are hosting or moderating gaming for good events should know when and how to hide, remove, and report illegal, harmful or offensive content.

Find out more about safeguarding gaming fundraisers

Children’s charity NSPCC has a wealth of advice to ensure children are protected online when gaming. This includes its guides: Understanding online games, Social media, online communities and safeguarding, and Helping children to stay safe online.

The NHS’s National Centre for Gaming Disorders has more information on gaming disorders to help charities better protect vulnerable fundraisers and audiences. The charity Ygam also offers advice on how excessive gaming can lead to wellbeing issues.