KEY+ Esports are helping older generations stay safe online!

‘BTEC Esports Group B’ is a group of Esports students who wanted to raise awareness about online security for elderly people. With technology evolving rapidly, they wanted to ensure that older generations felt confident and safe while navigating the digital world.

To do this, the group planned and delivered an engaging seminar on cyber security, covering crucial topics such as online scams, phishing emails, password protection, and safe browsing habits. They aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge and simple strategies to keep their personal information secure.

This project not only helped bridge the generational gap but also highlighted the importance of sharing digital knowledge to create a safer online community for everyone.

The group initially planned to run a games tournament but collectively decided to create something more meaningful. They wanted to help a broader audience and raise awareness about scams. As one member explained:

“No matter how old or young you are, scams will always be out there. By doing this, we’ve not only helped others but also improved our own knowledge about scams.”

However, they were surprised by how much their audience already knew about cyber security: “I think they definitely had a lot more knowledge than we expected, to be honest.”

Reflecting on the skills they developed through the project, the group highlighted their growth in confidence: “At the start of college, I wouldn’t have done anything like this. But now, I’ve developed my confidence enough to go out there and speak to a group of people.”

The most rewarding part of the project was “being able to have the opportunity to help other people.” And they hoped that they’ve “helped people be more aware”, encouraging “less people [to] get scammed.” They also hoped that people will “share with their families and friends” to reduce scamming further.

Giving advice to other young people who are considering a KEY+ project or who are considering hosting an informative workshop the group said “work with each other and not against each other, and coordinate things.” They also said: “choose a topic you know a lot about, because if the people you are presenting to do have questions, you need to be able to answer them.”