Game for Change Code of Conduct

Game for Change code of conduct Easy Read

As a charity, we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the people we support, families, colleagues, our fundraisers and all those who have a connection with our charity.  

We have prepared these guidelines to ensure that our gaming event is delivered in a way that protects the safety and well-being of everyone who engages in the event and that it is delivered in a way that aligns with our mission and values.  

Staying Safe Online

Know who you are talking to

Staying connected and gaming online with people you already know in person is great fun and a sensible approach to staying safe online. If you do meet people you don’t know, use the same caution that you would meeting someone new offline. People may not be who they say they are, so be mindful about what you say about yourself. It is best to keep chat general and if you are concerned that someone’s asking for personal details, stop contact and tell someone. We recommend that you don’t arrange to meet someone you only know online, but if you do, take someone with you and let people know where you are going and when you expect to be back.

BBC 8 tips for staying safe online

Game safe

If you are trying out a new game, be sure to take into account any medical conditions you may have.  Some games might trigger medical conditions such as epilepsy so it is important to research this first.

Personal information

You should always keep personal information to yourself. Remember to set your privacy settings and limit what other players can see. There is never any need to share personal details to other gamers or organisations online. If you feel you are being asked for this information or someone is being inappropriate, report them to the gaming or streaming service, or contact SeeAbility.

Viruses

Whilst it can be tempting to download cheat programmes these can expose your device to viruses and unsuitable content.  We recommend to stay away from these and enjoy your gaming experience without cheating. Also include strong passwords and clicking on links. 

Taking Care of Yourself 

Your safety is a priority for us, and it is important that you feel comfortable and stay safe whilst you are playing. Here are some ways to stay safe whilst gaming whether you are streaming or simply gaming offline.

Have fun

Gaming can be a great source of entertainment and an easy way to connect with like-minded people. We hope that you take part and enjoy doing so. However, if you ever feel that it is no longer enjoyable, for whatever reason, please do not feel compelled to complete your marathon or charity fundraiser at the expense of your own wellbeing. 

Healthy balance

Remember to take regular breaks when gaming; press pause, step away from the screen and stay hydrated. We recommend taking a break every 45 minutes and not spending too much time online.  

Mental Health

So many games are now designed to be immersive and wanting more, whilst online gaming exposes players to a whole new world and personalities. It is important to take care of your own mental health, and step away when you feel like you have had enough or it is getting too much. Please don’t feel compelled to complete a marathon or gaming session if it is at the sacrifice of your own physical or mental health and well-being.  

Below are some organisations that can help you if you are finding it difficult: 

  • Samaritans. To talk about anything upsetting you, your can contact the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  You can call 116 123 (free from any phone) or email jo@samaritans.org. 
  • SANEline. If you are experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4:30pm-10:30pm every day)
  • Shout. If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you can text SHOUT to 85258.  Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help

Expected behaviours and conduct 

Whilst hosting your charity marathon or stream, we expect that you will:

  • Have fun, enjoy the experience and talk about SeeAbility in a positive way to help raise awareness of our work.
  • Be inclusive and welcoming of all players who interact with you and your event.
  • Report any unacceptable behaviour you see from players that is deemed derogatory, offensive or threatening.
  • Report any concerns or incidents observed to the charity’s event organisers. 
  • During the event or stream, periodically remind your audience that they can report any incidents that made them feel unsafe or uncomfortable to the service provider or to SeeAbility.  If you would like the charity to provide you with some pre-written text for you to post we are happy to do this.  
  • Conduct yourself in a manner that will not offend others and will not put SeeAbility’s reputation into disrepute.  
  • Abide by your streaming provider’s policies and guidelines at all times. 

Whilst hosting your charity marathon or stream, we expect that you will not: 

  • Use any language or imagery that could be deemed offensive to other users.  This includes slurs or use of any derogatory language.
  • Let inappropriate behaviours from other users go unaddressed.  Although it is not your responsibility to moderate all communication, we expect harmful or threatening behaviour witnessed by you to be reported.
  • Encourage players to post any language or imagery that could be deemed offensive to other users.

Reporting inappropriate behaviour

We encourage you to report any concerns or inappropriate behaviour observed during your charity event.

Please refer to your providers policies for how to report – we have provided links for YouTube and Twitch below.

You can also report any concerns directly to SeeAbility by email events@seeability.org or calling 01372 755000.  

Monitoring

Where possible, a SeeAbility colleague will attend some or all of our participants live streaming sessions, to be able to share information about the charity with players and answer any questions they may have.  In addition, we will also conduct spot checks at random during streaming sessions to observe the environment and behaviour of those participating in the event.  

These guidelines in no way replace your streaming provider’s policies and guidelines.  By signing up for this event, it is assumed you have read and agree to follow these guidelines. 

Useful links

SeeAbility’s mission

Our mission is to champion and deliver ambitious support and preventative services alongside people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss, enabling them to realise their goals each and every day.

SeeAbility’s values

Our values have been co-produced with people we support, families, colleagues and trustees.  These values help us to work towards a ‘people first’ culture that will support us as we work to achieve our mission. These values represent people being at the heart of the charity and being a driving force for change.

  • Respect is our starting point.
  • We spark imagination.
  • We learn together to be our best.
  • We believe in each other.
Back to Game for Change