In Pictures: GamesAid charity winners 2012

Last night UK video games industry charity GamesAid revealed the winners of its 2012 member vote.

This year’s five successful charities were Action For Kids, Jigsaw4U, Small Steps, Special Effect and The Willow Foundation.

Each charity will receive £36,000 in funding, which has been raised by several individuals and companies across the games industry.

Below you can see photographs taken from the night as the winning charities accept their donations.

All those involved in the UK games industry are welcome to join GamesAid and can do so at the official website.

Action for Kids

Action For Kids works closely with families of disabled children and young people to help them deal with the barriers to independence by funding specialist equipment, offering family support and providing a wide range of education and training options and access to work programmes.

Jigsaw4u

Jigsaw4u is a charity working to support children and young people through trauma, loss and bereavement. It brings together children and young people who feel alone and different, so that by sharing their experiences they can develop the tools to move forward in their lives.

Small Steps

Small Steps runs structured sessions every morning / afternoon for groups of severely disabled children and their parents. Parents are hands-on with their own child throughout sessions, directed and assisted by a professional team including physiotherapist and conductor-teachers, learning skills themselves in order to support their child through the daily routine.

SpecialEffect

SpecialEffect is the only specialist UK-based charity dedicated to helping ALL people with disabilities enjoy video games – from injured soldiers to young disabled people who can’t play any other way. They’re also changing the way the whole WORLD plays through collaboration with developers and acclaimed online information service – the ‘GameBase’.

The Willow Foundation

The Willow Foundation is the only charity in the UK to provide positive and life-enhancing Special Days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds. Special Days aim to provide beneficiaries and loved ones with a break from the realities of diagnosis and treatment. Spending quality time with family and friends can help restore a sense of normality, boost confidence and create precious memories.