Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives & Resources

Games Industry

Name / Link	Type of Initiative	Short description
A History of LGBT Video Game Characters	Resource	An article from the Daily Dot summarising the history of LGBTQ+ game characters.
AbleGamers Player Panels	Initiative	Connects players with disabilities with game companies and other organizations to test games and participate in player research and development to make games more accessible.
Autistica Play	Charity	Working with the players and creators of games to achieve change that matters to autistic people and their families.
Balance Patch	Consultancy	A specialist inclusivity, equality and diversity consultancy service for the games industry.
BAME in Games	Initiative	Encouraging more diverse talent to work in mobile, online and console gaming, VR, AR, eSports, VFX, animation and entertainment industries.
Black Game Developers	Resource	A directory of black game developers and companies from around the world.
Black Girl Gamers	Community	Online platform-based community that aims to positively promote diversity and affect change within the games industry
Checkpoint	Charity	An Australian charity that provides mental health resources for gamers and the gaming community.
Code Coven	Initiative	A games industry-focused online bootcamp, catering towards people of marginalized genders.
Crayta Black Creator's Prize Fund	Fund	A monthly prize fund and mentoring programme for games made by black people, published within the Crayta platform.
Game On	Initiative	Payload Studio's regular series of industry panels, workshops and fireside chats promoting and supporting diversity, equality and inclusion.
GamesAid	Charity	A games industry charity collectively raising more for important causes.
Gaming The Mind	Initiative	An an organisation of UK-based mental health professionals, promoting positive mental health within the gaming community and the games industry.
Gayming Magazine	Magazine	Games magazine website focusing on LBGT+ related content.
Girls' Game Labs	Initiative	Professional Game Developers teaching girls how to make games.
Girls Make Games	Initiative	UK branch of the award-winning US summer camps.
Level Up Link Up	Community	Creating a space for Black gamers to decompress, relax and network while making a more diverse video games industry in the UK.
Limit Break	Initiative	A London-based mentorship program aimed at women and gender-diverse people in the games industry.
London Gaymers	Community	A safe place for the LGBT gaming community in London and across the UK to connect with like minded individuals.
Out Making Games	Community	Connecting and empowering the LGBTQ+ community working in the UK games industry.
POC In Play	Initiative	The racial equity and inclusion movement for video games
Queer Me	Resource	An archive of games offering queer perspectives for young people.
Queerly Represent Me	Resource	A database of LGBTQ+ characters in games, maintained by the Australian not-for-profit.
Rainbow Game Jam	Initative	An annual 2 week game jam to celebrate and promote diversity within the games industry.
Raise the Game	Initiative	A Ukie-led collaborative and high-impact pledge to improve diversity and inclusion in the games industry - creating cultures where everyone belongs, and ideas can thrive.
Safe In Our World	Charity	Fostering positive mental health wellbeing and support for players and games industry workers.
Save Point	Community	A relaxed weekly hang-out Discord for people of under-represented genders working in the Video Games industry.
SpecialEffect	Charity	Using video games and technology to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities.
Take This	Initiative	A US-based mental health nonprofit decreasing stigma and increasing support for mental health in games.
The Fairchild Initiative	Fund	A $2m fund dedicated to projects led by Black creators and studios, run by Kowloon Nights.
Wings Fund	Fund	Venture fund looking to support games by diverse teams, starting with games made by women and gender minority developers.
Women in Games	Initiative	Not for profit organisation for women in video, mobile, online games and esports.
Women Making Games North East	Community	Monthly meetups for Women in Games in the North East, UK.

Tech / General

Name / Link	Type of Initiative	Short description
#include <C++>	Community	IncludeCpp is a global, inclusive, and diverse community for developers interested in C++
23 Code Street	Coding school	Teaching women in the UK and India
30% Club	Non-profit	Dedicated to increasing women on boards
50/50 Pledge	Network	A pledge for events and conferences to be 50:50 represented
A Vision for Women in VR	Initiative	A collective visionary document challenging gender imbalance in the creative industries and tech
Accelerate Her	Company	Born out of Founders Forum, consulting fast growth tech companies
BIMA Tech Inclusion & Diversity Report	Report	The first official study to explore the experiences of diverse members of the UK tech sector.
Code First: Girls	Non-profit	Non-profit teaching women how to code and helping them get work in tech companies
Color in Tech	Non-profit	Non-profit promoting a fairer tech industry
DevelopHer	Non-profit	Non-profit social enterprise promoting women in technology
Divinc	Incubator	Young Enterprise focused on inner city schools
Dot Everyone	Non-profit	Focused on tech companies
Fearless Futures	Training group	Training focused on Social Justice
Hustle Crew	Community	Community for entrepreneurial women of colour
Inclusion in Tech	Resource & Guide	A step-by-step guide to help you plan, deploy, monitor and improve a Diversity & Inclusion strategy suited to your company.
Inclusive Boards	Company	Helping recruit more ethnically diverse boards
InnovateHer	Initiative	A national initiative to encourage girls aged 12-16 to pursue a career in the tech industries.
Muslamic Makers	Meet-up group	Meet-up group for Muslims in Tech
One Tech	Collective / network	Focussing on promoting entreprenrship to BAME / female entrepreneurs
People of Color in Tech	Community	Community for entrepreneurial people of colour
Success Talks	Event series	Platform and event series showcasing diverse speakers
Tech Talent Charter Diversity Directory	Initiative	A directory of UK programmes and organisations promoting and supporting diversity in the technology sectors.
Tech Talent Charter Open Playbook	Initiative	An open resource, sharing best practices for improving diversity across the technology sectors.
Techish	Community	Podcast / community showcasing diverse tech rolemodels
YSYS	Community	Community group of diverse entrepreneurs

Investment

Name / Link	Type of Initiative	Short description
AllBright	Angel group	Angel group and co-working club focussed on female founders
Angel Academe	Angel group	Angel group focused on female founders & angels
Astia Angels	Angel group	Angel group focused on female founders & angels
Backstage Capital	Fund / Accelerator	Accelerator in the UK focussed on LGBT, people of colour and female founders
FemStreet	Newsletter	Start-ups / VC
Jane VC	Fund	Fund focused on female founders
Level 20	Non-profit	Focused mainly on women in the Private Equity and LP community
Merian Ventures	Fund	Fund focused on female founders
Rare Seed Capital	Angel group	Angel group focused on BAME investors
Voulez Capital	Fund	Fund focused on female founders

The initial list of initiatives above was sourced via the Atomico 2018 State of European Tech report, although this has now been significantly expanded.