{"id":59136,"date":"2024-10-18T09:53:10","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T08:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?page_id=59136"},"modified":"2026-04-02T15:14:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:14:22","slug":"sense-and-virgin-media-o2-team-up-for-accessible-gaming-event-to-help-tackle-chronic-loneliness-amongst-disabled-gamers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/press-releases\/entertainment\/sense-and-virgin-media-o2-team-up-for-accessible-gaming-event-to-help-tackle-chronic-loneliness-amongst-disabled-gamers\/","title":{"rendered":"Sense and Virgin Media O2 team up for accessible gaming event to help tackle chronic loneliness amongst disabled gamers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-primary-bullets\">\n<li>Disabled gamers supported by the charity Sense enjoyed a day of gaming like no other at Virgin Media Gamepad, one of the UK\u2019s most accessible gaming spaces<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The event space opened last year and has been designed to be accessible with adaptive controllers, fully trained crew and adjustable environment settings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The gaming day aimed to tackle chronic loneliness experienced by disabled people, and builds on the disability <a href=\"https:\/\/news.virginmediao2.co.uk\/virgin-media-o2-and-sense-to-combat-chronic-loneliness-experienced-by-disabled-people-and-create-friendships-with-staff-volunteering-programme\/\">charity\u2019s ongoing partnership<\/a> with Virgin Media O2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>18 October<\/strong> <strong>2024<\/strong> \u2013 Disability charity Sense and Virgin Media O2 have come together for a dedicated gaming day for disabled players at Virgin Media Gamepad, the fully accessible gaming destination in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first-of-its-kind event, which took place on Thursday (17 October), was held to help tackle chronic loneliness experienced by disabled people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event provided a new opportunity for people that Sense supports with a passion for video games to experience a day of immersive and accessible gaming. Disabled participants played for prizes, tried new games and met new people, all supported by staff and volunteers from Virgin Media O2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sense, which supports people with complex disabilities like deafblindness, says that disabled people are more than twice as likely to be chronically lonely than non-disabled people, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/about-us\/research\/potential-and-possibility-research\/potential-and-possibility-2024-tackling-loneliness\/\">with research from the charity<\/a> showing over half of disabled people feel lonely every day. Inaccessible locations and event spaces can make it more difficult for disabled people to socialise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virgin Media O2 and Sense are working together to create lasting and meaningful friendships between the company&#8217;s workforce and disabled people, as part of the charity&#8217;s &#8216;Virtual Buddying&#8217; service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virgin Media O2&#8217;s employees used part of their five annual paid volunteering days to attend the event at Gamepad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>New research* from Virgin Media O2 reveals gaming could help close the loneliness gap for disabled gamers, with 80% saying it makes them feel less lonely and isolated, and more than three quarters (77%) of disabled people stating it helps them connect with others and build friendships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virgin Media Gamepad, the accessible gaming space housed in The O2 arena in London, offers people the opportunity to play hundreds of different video games for free in group settings and through its 16 individual gaming pods. The space, which is open seven days a week, is kitted out with Xbox Series X consoles and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Gamepad is step-free and wheelchair-friendly throughout, and also&nbsp;features adaptive controllers for people with limited mobility and light-adjustable sensory breakout spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Richard Kramer, Chief Executive at Sense, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis event is an important milestone in Sense\u2019s partnership with Virgin Media O2, which aims to tackle the chronic loneliness that too many disabled people face. Disabled people often tell us they feel prevented from socialising because so much of the world is inaccessible to them, so this event will be a great opportunity for people to make friends, try new things and immerse themselves in their passion for gaming in a fully accessible space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gareth Griffiths, Director, Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGaming has the power to create connections and build communities, and that\u2019s why we at Virgin Media want to help tackle the loneliness gap experienced by disabled players. Our role within gaming is to remove barriers, ensuring gamers can play without limits and bring people together, which is what our partnership with Sense is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event is part of the ongoing partnership between Virgin Media O2 and Sense, who joined forces in May 2024 to help tackle chronic loneliness experienced by disabled people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Case study: \u2018Gaming has got me through a lot of hard times\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"752\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC0310a-1024x752.jpg\" alt=\"A man playing a game in an arcade. He is wearing an orange cap.\" class=\"wp-image-59139\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC0310a-1024x752.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC0310a-600x441.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC0310a-768x564.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC0310a-1536x1129.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC0310a-2048x1505.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC0310a-500x367.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DSC0310a-1600x1176.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Marc Hill<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Marc is a keen gamer who loves playing truck and car games, which he says help him with his mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marc has complex disabilities including cerebral palsy, curvature of the spine, a blood clot on the brain and complex mental health conditions. These disabilities and health conditions mean that Marc finds it difficult to leave the house \u2013 he doesn\u2019t go out often, just for hospital and doctors\u2019 appointments and never for socialising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI like playing games because I can focus on the game and shut out my anxieties, sing along to the game music. Gaming has got me through a lot of hard times in my life. It\u2019s a coping mechanism for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wanted to attend the gaming event with Virgin Media O2 and Sense to get out of my comfort zone. It\u2019s been amazing and the Gamepad staff were generous, kind and so welcoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I usually don&#8217;t like big groups and being in a loud room but I&#8217;m zoning in on my game and I can&#8217;t wait to come back!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marc lives alone and has carers in five times a day. It was his carers who applied on Marc\u2019s behalf to Sense\u2019s virtual buddying programme, which pairs disabled people and volunteers together in an effort to combat loneliness. The virtual buddying team at Sense are currently working on finding the perfect volunteer match for Marc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find out more about the virtual buddying programme <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/get-involved\/volunteering-with-sense\/volunteer-as-a-sense-virtual-buddy\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Notes to Editors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>*<\/strong>Survey: 1,000 gamers with disabilities surveyed online between 13 and 15 October<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>About Virgin Media O2<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virgin Media O2 launched on 1 June 2021, combining the UK\u2019s largest and most reliable mobile network with a fully gigabit broadband network where customers benefit from average speeds 5x faster than the national average.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company has more than 46 million UK connections across its award-winning broadband, mobile, TV and home phone services. Its fixed network covers more than half of the country (17m homes serviceable) alongside a mobile network that covers 99% of the nation\u2019s population. The company is on track to bring 5G to all populated areas by end 2030, and offers more than 50% population 5G coverage today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virgin Media O2 is upgrading its fixed network to full fibre to the premises with completion in 2028. Its shareholders and investment firm InfraVia Capital Partners, through a joint venture called nexfibre, are investing approximately \u00a34.5bn to build fibre to 5 million homes and businesses not currently served by Virgin Media O2\u2019s network by 2026, with the opportunity to expand to an additional 2 million homes. As a wholesale customer of this network, Virgin Media O2\u2019s total footprint will reach around 80% of the UK once build and upgrade work is completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through Virgin Media O2 Business, the company plays a leading role supporting entrepreneurs, businesses, enterprises and the public sector with their digital transformation through a range of connectivity, security, cloud and tailor-made services. It is also the network of choice for mobile virtual network operators giffgaff and Sky Mobile, as well as managing a 50:50 joint venture with Tesco for Tesco Mobile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company is committed to using the power of connectivity to make its better for people and the planet, taking action to close the digital divide and building an inclusive, resilient, and low carbon economy. The business has set an ambitious commitment to achieve net zero carbon across its operations, products and supply chain by the end of 2040.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virgin Media O2 is a 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telef\u00f3nica SA, and one of the UK\u2019s largest businesses. Virgin Media O2 is registered in England and Wales. Registration number: 12580944.&nbsp; Griffin House, 161 Hammersmith Road, London, United Kingdom, W6 8BS.&nbsp; <strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>18 October 2024 \u2013 Sense and Virgin Media O2 have come together for a dedicated gaming day for disabled players<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":352,"featured_media":59139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1401],"tags":[],"display_author":[],"class_list":["post-59136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59136"},{"taxonomy":"display_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/display_author?post=59136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}