Blackpool & The Fylde College students to hold Rocket League esports competition to raise funds for food bank
Using gaming for a good cause.
Blackpool and The Fylde College esports students are set to combine competitive gaming with community fundraising as they launch a charity Rocket League tournament aimed at helping feed some of the town’s most vulnerable residents.
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The event, taking place on June13 and 15, is being organised by Level 3 Esports students in collaboration with community charity Rons Run. The initiative will raise money for the charity’s Big Food Project, which supports people experiencing food poverty across Blackpool.
According to esports tutor Gemma Sweeney, the project is an opportunity for students to use their skills for a positive cause while introducing a new concept of “paying esports forward”.
Rocket League, one of the world's most popular esports titles, combines football with high-speed, rocket-powered vehicles. The game has developed a huge global competitive scene, with professional tournaments attracting millions of viewers online and offering substantial prize pools. Student-led competitions often mirror these professional events, complete with live commentary, streaming and organised tournament structures.
The Blackpool and The Fylde College event will feature a Rocket League tournament with shoutcasting – the esports equivalent of sports commentary – and will be streamed live on Twitch before being uploaded to YouTube, allowing audiences around the world to watch.
Rons Run was founded on the principle of “paying sport forward”, using sport as a vehicle to support communities and help those in need. Inspired by that approach, students hope to create a similar model within esports by raising funds through gaming to help feed local people.
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The young people behind the project are aged between 16 and 18, with some students having Education, Health and Care Plans. Organisers believe they could become pioneers of the “paying esports forward” concept, demonstrating how competitive gaming can be used to make a meaningful difference beyond the screen.
By turning their passion for esports into a force for good, the students hope to show that gaming communities can play a valuable role in supporting local causes.