Game on! Councils Celebrate International Games Week

Westminster City Council and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea libraries will be celebrating International Games Week from 6 to 13 November.   

•    Free events to get people off their phones and into board games  
•    From Monopoly to Trivial Pursuits – huge selection at Games Library  
•    Dungeons and Dragons to help people socialise 

The annual event encourages communities worldwide to connect with their libraries and celebrate the educational, recreational, and social benefits of playing games together.  

The events will create an opportunity for people to socialise, but research has also highlighted many benefits of tabletop games beyond socialising, particularly for children and young people; from helping development of numeracy and literacy skills, improved confidence and social skills, and supporting those with Special Educational Needs and disabilities to learn and engage with others more easily. 

There will be a variety of free events and activities to be enjoyed by experienced gamers and newcomers alike taking place in libraries across Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea throughout the week.  

This time last year the bi-borough Games Library initiative was launched to make tabletop games more accessible, provide regular events and activities for all age groups, and create valuable work experience opportunities for young people. The Games Library has seen significant success with 75% of the 350 available games being regularly borrowed and seven regular events taking place each month for residents aged 13+. 

The Games Library provides an alternative to screen time, offering an engaging environment for people to play and learn in that is safe from the harms that excessive internet device usage can cause. Research conducted by non-profit Internet Matters shows that parents particularly are becoming increasingly concerned with the negative physical impacts that screen time is having on their children, with 63% believing that their children’s physical health is negatively impacted by screentime.  

Games facilitators and teachers are seeing firsthand the positive impact of the Games Library on children’s development. Children who were having trouble with realising their full potential in school have found a space to flourish in the gaming environment. Facilitators observed incredible problem-solving skills, creativity and teamwork among players. With national challenges such as falling school attendance levels, a rise in mental health concerns and a high demand for SEND provision, the Games Library is providing a valuable resource that is both educational and fun.

You can find all International Games Week events on the council website. Events taking place in Westminster libraries require registration. You can register to attend on Eventbrite. 

Melissa Royle, Head of School at Queen's Park Primary School said: 

Games play a vital role in child development. They support both social skills and wellbeing at the same time as practising oracy, maths and problem-solving skills.

In today’s world full of technology there has never been a greater need to promote the use of table top games to support children and at Queen’s Park Primary School we have been working with the Games Library to increase the opportunities for this.

This has been so impactful for all of our learners but also demonstrates particular benefits for our children who have English as an additional language or special educational needs. It is also extremely easy to get children to play games as they are always so much fun the children don’t even realise all of the learning they are doing!

Cllr Ryan Jude, Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology and Culture said: 

“International Games Week highlights the incredible ability that games possess to enrich the lives of our communities through pathways for learning and socialising in an inclusive environment.

Our libraries play an important role in enabling the many benefits of tabletop gaming. In line with our Fairer Westminster vision, they are spaces that residents of all ages and backgrounds value so I am overjoyed that we can continue to build on the success of 2023 and provide more opportunities for residents to learn and explore their interests."