Leaving a Legacy with Community Care Gaming

Leaving a Legacy with Community Care Gaming

Lee Willows, founder of Community Care Gaming, has over 15 years as an entrepreneur under his belt. Looking to learn more about esports and further develop his organisation, Lee applied to our accelerator programme delivered in partnership with British Esports.

Social Purpose

Community Care Gaming aims to tackle social isolation and loneliness using esports, gaming and virtual reality technology (VR). Their work primarily helps individuals over 50 and people who are impacted by dementia or a stroke. With the use of VR headsets, they deliver workshops throughout nursing homes across the country to help tackle depression and isolation in communities that may struggle to engage with people.

“We’re quite big on nostalgia. We recreate tea dances from the 1940s, where patients can dance as couples, reliving their favourite pastime of their youth with VR.”

With the development of emerging tech, Community Care Gaming hopes to allow families to empathise with each other and bring them close together. They also are implementing esports and gaming to slow down the rate of dementia development and help those who have mobility issues due to being impacted by a stroke.

“The grand vision is to have esports, gaming and VR embedded in NHS Prevention Programme and private health providers.”

Long Life Learning

Lee initially participated in our accelerator programme to learn more about the esports industry and how it could benefit his organisation.

“We were thrilled to be chosen for the accelerator. I wanted to learn new nuances from the industry, hear from new speakers and see if any crossover work was available with the other participating startups.”

Throughout the eight-week programme, our accelerator introduced businesses to key elements that any new startup or established organisation should implement to thrive in the current esports landscape. One startup management tool we introduced was the Lean Canvas format.

“I could already articulate my organisation’s impact well, but with the Lean Canvas, I was able to focus on what I write or say succinctly.”

Meeting the Right People

Being an advocate for the North, Lee was delighted to be working with Sunderland Software City, as our mission to support the growth of the region’s tech sector matched his ethos.

“We wanted to engage with SSC as we have a strong affiliation with the north and want to have an impact within the north due to many aged communities being present who could benefit from our work.”

Through our accelerator, we supported our participating startups with methods to access funding to obtain the essential components to maintain a business and to maintain a professional appearance that would reassure potential investors.

“The funding gained from SSC is a huge amount for a startup. It can help you with a registered office, website, email domain, and marketing. All the fundamentals to build a product”.

Previously, Lee has founded organisations and grown them through grant funding and donations and was sceptical about investments.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, I was uncertain about taking on investments. Meeting investors reassured me that their investment in my business was due to the value they saw in Community Care Gaming and its purpose.”

Pitch Ready

During the programme, startups are tasked with developing a brief pitch that can be presented to generate funds from potential investors. Our startup team worked with Lee and the rest of the group to have a pitch-ready deck by the end of the 8 weeks. Mark Gardner, our Startup and Growth Manager, was with the cohort every step of the way to provide feedback and make sure everyone was confident in their pitch.

“Mark attended every session supporting everyone. He saw all of us grow in our confidence. The most memorable part for me was seeing how Mark created an environment of trust where people were encouraged to try new things and not worry about getting it wrong.”

“When speaking to an investor, you will have the confidence and resources to show what you want to do with your business. SSC believes in founders and it’s our responsibility to spend it well”.

Why Should You Do an Accelerator?

“Life is far too short. Some older people we work with have regrets that they didn’t act upon opportunities when they were younger. You’ll be inspired by the team within SSC who are there to support you throughout the course.”

Leaving a Legacy

Keen to make a difference with the work of his startup, CommunityCare Gaming is Lee’s way of leaving his legacy. After our accelerator ended, Lee has been continuing his work with the lessons he learned to champion collaboration with startups and investors.

“We’re collaborating with organisations and approaching Innovate UK and other funding that is available. October will mark a year since the accelerator ended, and we want to showcase what we have done in a year”.

Lee has continued working with British Esports to develop an educational programme that he hopes will be born and based in the North East and spread across the country to highlight the love that our region has for emerging tech.

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